Indian PM Narendra Modi, USA President Joe Biden, and Australian PM Anthony Albanese accoladed Shinzo Abe. He played robust role to advance a vision for an open and free Indo-Pacific. He was a “transformative leader” who worked tirelessly for Japan. India mourned the loss of a loyal and trustworthy friend. Abe was “India’s friend” as he augmented further relations between the two countries.
The trio expressed their condolences over the assassination of Shinzo Abe. He was the longest-serving Prime Minister of Japan. Abe served as the Prime Minister for two stints- 2006 to 2007 and 2012 to 2020. He later resigned from the office due to health reasons. The joint statement said, “Prime Minister Abe was a transformative leader for Japan and Japanese relations with each one of our countries. He also played a formative role in the founding of the Quad partnership, and worked tirelessly to advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific”
Shinzo Abe’s Assassination:
Abe was shot at Nara, a city near Tokyo. He was delivering a speech ahead of the upper house elections. Abe was airlifted to a nearby local hospital. Abe died due to massive blood loss despite massive blood transfusions being provided to him.
Abe’s Role in Quad:
Abe was the architect behind the idea of an inclusive and free Indo- Pacific. He advocated Indo-Pacific as a common geopolitical space. Shinzo Abe believed Quad as a mechanism to ensure a rules-based order in the region. Despite never being officially said, the Quad was formed to counter Chinese aggression and economic stand hold in the region. China possesses a serious threat to the stability of the members of the Quad. Due to its strategic location and friendly relations with other countries, Japan played an instrumental role in its formation.
In 2007, the initial steps to formulate Quad was stalled by Australia’s desire to balance ties with China. But the seeds that Abe had sown, reaped in Manila almost a decade later. The countries finally joined hands for the revival of Quad. Amidst the Russian- Ukraine crisis the members of the Quad met recently in May in Tokyo. Earlier they also had a virtual summit in March to discuss the geopolitical tensions across the world. Quad members have engaged in maritime peacekeeping exercises and joint military exercises to maintain peace in the region.
Role of Quad:
Quad has also focused on providing public goods such as vaccines. It also negotiated trade deals with other countries in the region. It aims to eliminate China’s domination as most of the countries share economic ties with China. Climate change and the related problems are an integral part of their discussions. They have also deepened their partnerships on critical technologies. They have also emphasized providing scholarships to students of the four countries for deep cultural exchange.
The other three leaders said that their heart is with the Japanese people and their fourth counterpart- Japanese PM Fumio Kishida. The Quad leaders have promised that they will “honor” Prime Minister Abe’s memory by “re-doubling” their work for a “peaceful and prosperous region”.
Abe was a pioneer in pushing the intellectual and political frontiers to recognize the emerging threats in the frontier. He address them by actively participating and getting involved in the mechanism of Quad. He was a pragmatic leader who led his own country that had been wedded to the policy of appeasement since World War II. The joint statement by them was a tribute to the legacy and the efforts of Abe to formulate Quad.
