Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) celebrates with former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba after the ruling liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership election at the party's headquarters in Tokyo. (Reuters)

Japan's Prime Minister wins ruling party vote

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won a ruling party leadership vote on Thursday, setting him on track to become Japan's longest-serving premier.

Abe, who surged back to power in 2012 promising to reboot the economy and strengthen defence, defeated former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba in the election for Liberal Democratic Party chief, winning 553 votes to Ishiba's 254.

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