JAPAN: Ishiba Win Sees Focus Shift To Foreign Policy & Security Stance

Victory for veteran contender Shigeru Ishiba (67) in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership contest - winning at his fifth attempt - is set to maintain policy continuity in some areas while spurring a shift in others. As noted earlier ('JBGS: Sell Off As Continuation Candidate Wins LDP Leadership', 0805BST) Ishiba's win is viewed as a strong indicator of continuity with regards to not interfering with the BoJ's rate-setting decisions as well as in maintaining outgoing PM Fumio Kishida's fiscal plans. 

• Ishiba won the run-off election by 215 to 194 votes, defeating hardline conservative and 'Abenomies' advocate Sanae Takaichi (63). Takaichi won the first round, winning 181 votes to Ishiba's 154, but was short of an overall majority. Former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (43) picked up the most votes from LDP lawmakers, but recieved little backing from grassroots party members with his 136 votes seeing him eliminated in the first round.
• Ishiba is set to deliver a presser at 1800JST (0500ET, 1000BST, 1100CET) to outline his main policy objectives in office. There will be questions over once assuming office on 1 October will the new PM call a snap general election? The consensus is that  Ishiba is not inclined to immediately dissolve the House of Representatives.
• Some of the most notable shifts in policy could come in the foreign policy and security area. Ishiba, defence secretary from 2007-08, is seen as a notable foreign policy hawk and advocate of an 'Asian NATO'as well as a re-made security treaty with the US.