China, pandemic, energy top Japan's leadership race debate
ABC News
Four candidates vying to lead Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party _ and replacing outgoing Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga _ have held their first main debate
TOKYO -- Four candidates vying to lead Japan's governing Liberal Democratic Party — and replacing outgoing Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga — held their first main debate on Saturday, discussing plans to tackle key issues such as China, the COVID-19 measures, the pandemic-hit economy and climate change and energy.
The vote will be held on Sept. 29.
The contenders include front-runner Vaccinations Minister Taro Kono, former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, as well as two female candidates — an ultra-conservative former Internal Affairs Minister Sanae Takaichi and former Gender Equality Minister Seiko Noda, a diversity supporter.
Here's a look at some of the candidates' views on key policy issues debated at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo:
