Asia-Pacific

World leaders stunned after shooting of ex-Japanese PM Shinzo Abe

Taoiseach says he is ‘deeply shocked’ by killing, Abe attacked while giving campaign speech in Japan

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has died after being shot while making a speech. Photograph: PA

Edward White in Wellington and FT reporters
Fri Jul 8 2022 - 11:38

The shooting of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has sparked condemnation from political leaders across the world.

Mr Abe (67), Japan’s longest-serving prime minister who stood down in 2020, died after being shot twice in Nara, a city close to Kyoto.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was “deeply shocked” at the gun attack, describing it as “an attack on democracy itself”.

“It is all the more shocking that it happened in a peace-loving country like Japan,” said Mr Martin, who extended his condolences to Mr Abe’s family and to the people of Japan.

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“He was a strong and committed democrat, and it is especially shocking that he was murdered while engaged in that most democratic of activities, campaigning ahead of an election.

“On this very sad occasion, on behalf of the Government and people of Ireland, I extend our most profound condolences and solidarity.”

In 2013 Mr Abe became the first Japanese prime minister to visit Dublin. He did so after attending the G8 summit in Enniskillen.

Mr Abe praised the Irish government’s handling of the debt crisis at that time. He also stated that Ireland, like Japan, had maintained a tradition of “peace and neutral diplomacy”, adding that he wished to see greater exchanges of students between Ireland and Japan and promotion of innovation between the two countries.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney also paid tribute to Mr Abe describing him as “very decent” and “a gentleman”.

[ Shinzo Abe shooting: Former Japanese prime minister has died ]

Jens Stoltenberg, secretary general of Nato, the western military alliance, said he was “deeply saddened by the heinous killing of Shinzo Abe, a defender of democracy and my friend and colleague over many years”.

“My deepest condolences to his family, PM [Fumio] Kishida and the people of Nato’s partner Japan at this difficult time,” he said.

Japan’s fellow Quad members, Australia, India and the US, were among the first to respond after the shooting.

India’s prime minister Narendra Modi called for a day of national mourning in his country, saying he was “shocked and saddened beyond words at the tragic demise of one of my dearest friends, Shinzo Abe”.

Before Mr Abe’s death was reported, Antony Blinken, US secretary of state, said the shooting was a “very, very sad moment”.

Mr Abe was instrumental in the formation of the Quad group, which is widely acknowledged as a partnership designed to counter China’s assertiveness in the region.

China’s foreign ministry also expressed “shock” at Mr Abe’s shooting and extended condolences to his family.

Kevin Rudd, the former Australian prime minister, said the attack “provides a sober reminder to all our democracies of how precious our freedoms are”.

“An attack on any democratically elected political leader is an attack on supporters of democracy everywhere,” said Mr Rudd, who is now president of the US-based Asia Society think tank.

[ Shinzo Abe: A resilient, driven leader who became a controversial figure ]

Former US president Donald Trump, with whom Mr Abe forged close ties, said via social media that the shooting was “a tremendous blow to the wonderful people of Japan”.

Mr Abe’s public support for Taiwan had strengthened since he left office in the face of rising Chinese aggression against the democratic nation.

Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan president, condemned the “violent and illegal acts”, while Wang Ting-yu, a member of Taiwan’s parliament from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, said that “PM Abe is a good friend of Taiwan”.

Charles Michel, European Council president, said he was “shocked and saddened by cowardly attack on Shinzo Abe while performing his professional duties”.

“A true friend, fierce defender of multilateral order & democratic values,” Michel said. “[The] EU stands with people of Japan and [prime minister Fumio] Kishida in these difficult times.”

The former Japanese prime minister has long been a target of Chinese nationalists. One popular Weibo comment under the news of the incident read: “Don’t forget that he visited the Yasukuni Shrine,” referring to the controversial memorial that honours Japan’s war dead, including some convicted war criminals.

French president Emmanuel Macron said he was “profoundly shocked” by the “hateful” attack on Mr Abe, whom he described as a “great prime minister”.

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez condemned “this cowardly attack”, adding that “Spain stands in solidarity with the Japanese people in these difficult times.

Anthony Albanese, Australia’s prime minister, said “our thoughts are with his family and the people of Japan at this time”. — Additional reporting Ronan McGreevy

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