This is John Batchel, a conversation with Lance Gatling in Tokyo,

a principal of nexial research, about the new government in Japan.

Shiguru Ishiba is re-elected Prime Minister to lead the Liberal Democratic Party, the LDP.

The challenges ahead include national security, continuing and augmenting the previous government's

commitment to defending Taiwan. Other concerns, however, have to do with the new Trump administration,

tariffs and what it means for Japan. Here's Lance Gatling in Tokyo to explain. Our allies in the

Pacific are all looking over the table at a new

face come January 20th, who is like the old face, but then again, time moves on. Here's Lance.

Mara this tonight. Well, bear in mind that the second Isa government is probably about 30 years old, right?

Sorry, 30 hours old right now.

And there's not been a whole lot of time to make any major policy statements.

Certainly he's negotiating with folks.

They have to get the supplemental budget confirmed.

That's a very big step.

I think he's going to be very reluctant to repeat some of the more expansive national security policy trial balloons that he has lofted. But in fact, he did talk to Donald Trump, and they want to continue their discussions

about closer relationships.

The mention of tariffs is going to be a big problem for Japan, as it is closely intertwined

with the Chinese economy.

Much of what Americans buy marked Japanese, Sony, or whatever is actually assembled.

It may perhaps designed or marketed from Japan, but assembled in China.

And the economies are highly intertwined.

So this gives Japan a unique position to help Japan and the rest of Asia deal with China.

...