Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delivered the keynote speech at last weekend’s Shangri-La Dialogue — and that’s a big deal. The annual meeting, convening in-person for the first time in two years, is the opportunity for officials and experts to discuss and assess regional security, to get the lay of the land and lay down markers.
With the Upper House election a month away, Japanese politics will soon kick into high gear. The parliament is set to close on June 15, and campaigning will likely begin on June 22, with voters casting their ballots on July 10. For its part, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is already primed and ready for
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel praised Japan and current leader Fumio Kishida on Wednesday for pledging to bolster the U.S.-Japan alliance by pursuing what Kishida has said would be a “drastic” hike in the country’s defense budget, as China continues its assertive moves in the region. Speaking at a panel discussion with former Prime
