For subscribers

Kishida’s successor faces headwinds in maintaining Japan’s role as major security player

How policies shape up on the foreign and defence fronts may be out of Japan’s control.

Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces participate in a joint exercise with Philippine and US troops in San Antonio, Zambales province, north of Manila on Oct 6.

April 2024 saw the first “southern trilateral” summit involving Japan, the Philippines and the US.

PHOTO: AFP

Denny Roy

Follow topic:

Mr Fumio Kishida’s announcement on Aug 14 that he will

step down as Japan’s Prime Minister

was a surprise, but understandable. His Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is reeling from

a campaign finance scandal

, the loss of two legislative seats in recent by-elections and revelations about its links to the controversial Unification Church.

Mr Kishida himself is particularly unpopular. According to polling by Nikkei, his initial 60 per cent approval rating fell to 20 per cent for eight consecutive months up to July 2024.

Kishida’s successor faces headwinds in maintaining Japan’s role as major security player

Follow topic:

See more on