Fumio Kishida is the new leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party. (Photo: THX/VNA)

Kishida has vowed to increase middle-class incomes and reduce wealth disparity. Like his predecessors Suga Yoshihide and Shinzo Abe, Kishida asserts Japan will work toward realizing a "free and open Indo-Pacific," and countering China's growing expansion in the South China Sea and East China Sea while reflecting concern over tensions in the Taiwanese Strait.