Former Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday reaffirmed his intention to run in the presidential election of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party in September following Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's decision not to join the race.
Hours after Kishida made the surprise announcement, which will see him step down as premier, Ishida told reporters in Taipei, "If someone is willing to work with me or recommend me, if there are 20 people like this, of course, I will be very willing to run for election."
Ishiba, who is a favored candidate among the public for prime minister, made the remarks at a press conference held at Taiwan's Foreign Ministry on the final day of his three-day trip to the self-ruled island.
A candidate in the LDP leadership race must secure endorsements from 20 party lawmakers. Ishiba called this requirement "difficult" to fulfill.
The veteran lawmaker, who formerly served as LDP secretary general, expressed his intention in late July to throw his hat into the ring. It will be Ishiba's fifth attempt to lead the party.
In Taiwan, Ishiba co-led a cross-party delegation of six Japanese lawmakers. The group met with the island's president, Lai Ching-te, on Tuesday and agreed that deterrence is key to maintaining regional peace and stability.
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