26 percent of Japanese support former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s candidacy for prime minister. This was reported by TASS Citing a survey conducted by the Japanese publication Yomiuri.
Ishiba was the most popular of all candidates submitted. Sanae Takaichi, also head of the Ministry of Economic Security, received 25 percent of the vote, and former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, received 15 percent. The remaining candidates received 5–6 percent or less.
Ishiba is the chairman of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Japan’s parliamentary elections are due to be held by July 2025 at the latest.
Japan’s defense spending in 2024 grew up increased by over 10% from last year. In 2023, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida supported discussions on constitutional amendments regarding self-defense and the state of emergency.
Previously, the Japanese government statedMonitoring the drills and maneuvers of Russia and China.