Restoring trust seen as key after runoff in Japan
China DailyShigeru Ishiba celebrates in Tokyo on Friday after being elected as the new head of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party. HIRO KOMAE/POOL/AFP Shigeru Ishiba, who is expected to be Japan's next prime minister after being elected the leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party in a runoff election on Friday, needs to lead the party in regaining public trust, according to analysts. Ishiba, 67, a former defense minister and former LDP secretary-general, defeated Sanae Takaichi, 63, the economic security minister, by securing 215 votes to Takaichi's 194 in the one-on-one runoff. Ishiba is expected to be elected as Japan's 102nd prime minister at an extraordinary Diet session to be convened on Tuesday, Jiji Press reported. At a regular news conference on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that China has noted the election result, emphasizing that "it is Japan's domestic affair.