Japan: Former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida Elected As Next Leader Of Ruling LDP, Will Be Japan's Next PM

Former foreign minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday won a close race to lead Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), setting him up to succeed incumbent Yoshihide Suga as prime minister and take the party into a general election this autumn, Nikkei reported.

Kishida will be formally elevated as prime minister in a parliamentary session scheduled to begin on Oct. 4.

Kishida staved off a spirited challenge from administrative reform minister Taro Kono who enjoys good support among the rank-and-file members. Kishida won 257 run-off votes, while Kono got 170 as Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers voted to elect their party chief.

Two other contenders (both woman) - former internal affairs minister Sanae Takaichi and former gender equality minister Seiko Noda- did not muster enough support to stay in the final race. Takaichi, a protégé of former PM Shinzo Abe, was seen as a hawkish voice representing the conservative wing of the party.

A native of Hiroshima, Kishida is widely perceived as a centrist who holds moderate views on many issues including nuclear power and foreign policy.

In an interview to Nikkei recently, Kishida had expressed "deep alarm" at Beijing's aggressive behavior on the diplomatic and economic fronts. Dealing with China would be a top priority for his government, Kishida identified.

To protect "basic values such as freedom, democracy, the rule of law and human rights, we will work with those that share the same values, such as the U.S., Europe, India and Australia, to stand against authoritarian systems," Kishida said during the recent interview.