Shigeru Ishiba Elected Japan's New Prime Minister

Shigeru Ishiba has been elected as the new leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and is set to become Prime Minister following a Diet vote scheduled for October 1. Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te expressed hopes for strengthened relations with Japan under Ishiba's leadership, emphasizing the importance of cooperation and mutual interests in regional security. Ishiba, a former defense minister, has previously engaged with Taiwanese leaders to discuss bilateral ties and regional stability, and he is known for advocating stronger military collaboration in Asia. The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has congratulated Ishiba and reaffirmed its commitment to deepening cooperation with Japan to ensure peace in the Indo-Pacific. This diplomatic engagement comes amid rising tensions in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, where Japan has emerged as a significant ally to the U.S. in countering Chinese influence. Both Taiwan and Japan, despite lacking formal diplomatic relations, continue to support each other on the international stage, a stance that often provokes discontent from Beijing.