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Beijing, July 8: The stunning assassination of Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who formed a robust coverage in opposition to China, on Friday evoked combined reactions on this nation with the federal government expressing shock and sympathy whereas netizens gloated calling for “champagne celebrations”. Abe, 67, was shot from behind in Nara in western Japan whereas giving a marketing campaign speech. He was airlifted to a hospital however was not respiration and his coronary heart had stopped. He was pronounced useless later on the hospital. Abe was Japan’s longest-serving chief earlier than stepping down in 2020 for well being causes.
“China is shocked” by Abe’s sudden demise, International Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian was quoted as saying by Japan’s Kyodo Information. Zhao mentioned that Abe “made contributions to selling the development and growth of China-Japan relations.” Earlier, in guarded remarks on the media briefing properly earlier than Abe’s demise was formally introduced, Zhao mentioned, “We famous this sudden incident and we’re shocked. We’re following the scenario.” “We hope former Prime Minister Abe shall be out of hazard and get better quickly”, he mentioned, including that China will lengthen sympathies to his household.
However on the identical time, he parried questions on the adversarial reactions in Weibo, akin to Twitter in China, the place some netizens known as for “popping champagne”, making caustic feedback over his robust insurance policies in the direction of China in addition to defence of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as a part of its mainland. “I will not touch upon the remarks of the online customers,” Zhao mentioned. He mentioned China expressed sympathies with Abe’s household and that “this sudden incident” should not be linked with bilateral relations.
In a bid to tone down the bitterness over the robust coverage pursued and advocated by Abe in opposition to China, together with his marketing campaign to revive the Japanese navy citing China’s risk, Zhao mentioned, “On what he did with regard to bilateral ties throughout his time within the workplace, we famous that former Prime Minister Abe as soon as made contributions to pushing ahead the development of China-Japan relations”. Taiwan, which China claims as a part of its personal territory, paid wealthy tributes to Abe, saying “as one of many nation’s most unwavering buddies, the previous PM has been supporting Taiwan via the years whereas sparing no effort in selling bilateral relations.” Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen described Abe as “not solely buddy of mine, but additionally a staunch buddy of Taiwan’s”.
“He has supported Taiwan for a few years and spared no effort to advertise the progress of Taiwan-Japan relations,” Tsai wrote on Fb. The Chinese language have a love, hate relationship with Japan. Traditionally, they fought two bitter wars-the first Sino-Japanese conflict, 1894-95 and the second in 1934-45, throughout World Struggle II. It was known as the Asian holocaust as thousands and thousands of Chinese language civilians had been killed. The second conflict resulted within the Nanjing Bloodbath wherein 1000’s of Chinese language had been killed.
Nanjing is a metropolis in japanese China. In recent times, the relations turned bitter over China’s expansive claims over the Senkaku islands, which Beijing calls Diaoyu islands in East China Sea. However on the identical time, Japan remained essentially the most favoured vacationer nation for thousands and thousands of Chinese language who swarm Japanese cities yearly. Initially, Abe pushed ahead with a coverage to enhance ties with China and met President Xi Jinping in 2014 throughout his go to to Beijing to participate within the APEC summit adopted by one other in 2019 on the G-20 summit in Osaka in Japan. However later, he turned a vocal critic of China, calling on Beijing to keep away from antagonising different nations and cease demanding extra territory from its neighbours.
Abe additionally deepened strategic partnerships with India, Vietnam and different regional powers in addition to EU and UK and likewise upgraded Japan’s personal defence capabilities. Abe was one of many architects of the Quad, the US, India, Japan and Australia alliance geared toward countering China’s rising affect and navy may. PTI
Story first printed: Friday, July 8, 2022, 19:04 [IST]
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