Abe Shinzo was the most important Japanese leader in the past 50 years, says Kevin Rudd
The former Australian prime minister considers Abe’s international achievements
In the past 50 years, three Japanese leaders have become global leaders in their own right: Nakasone Yasuhiro (in office from 1982-87); Koizumi Junichiro (from 2001-06) and Abe Shinzo (from 2006-07 and 2012-20). Of these, history will view Abe as the most consequential. He transformed Japan’s post-war political identity, foreign policy role and strategic mission. Nowhere has this been more evident than in Abe’s response to the rise of China, whose challenge arguably became the organising principle of his prime ministership.
This article appeared in the By Invitation section of the print edition under the headline “Abe Shinzo was the most important Japanese leader in the past 50 years, says Kevin Rudd”
From the July 16th 2022 edition
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