TOKYO -- With Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stepping down, Japan's neighbors and partners are faced with the question of who comes next and how much of Abe's foreign policy his successor will retain.
On Friday, the same day Abe announced his resignation, China's state-run Xinhua News Agency published an article arguing that former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba was a top contender to become the next prime minister, citing his strong showing in opinion polls.
