Shigeru Ishiba reaffirms intention to run in LDP leadership race

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 …READ FULL ARTICLE