Japan's prime minister race clashes with U.N., ASEAN summit season

TOKYO -- The timing of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party leadership race to replace Prime Minister Fumio Kishida coincides with a busy diplomatic schedule, potentially impacting the ability of his successor to attend October's ASEAN summit and other key international meetings.

Members of the LDP will elect Kishida's successor in a party presidential election scheduled for Sept. 27. It will take about a week for the new prime minister to form the cabinet.