‘Chief of nice imaginative and prescient’: World leaders react to killing of former PM Shinzo Abe

United States President Joe Biden expressed outrage on the deadly taking pictures of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe on Friday (Jul 8), calling him a champion of the US-Japan alliance who cared deeply in regards to the Japanese folks and democracy.

“I’m shocked, outraged, and deeply saddened by the information that my pal Abe Shinzo, former Prime Minister of Japan, was shot and killed whereas campaigning. It is a tragedy for Japan and for all who knew him,” Biden mentioned in an announcement.

“Even in the mean time he was attacked, he was engaged within the work of democracy.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken mourned the previous prime minister as a visionary chief who boosted relations between the 2 allies.

Assembly his Japanese and South Korean counterparts collectively at a G20 assembly in Bali, Blinken known as Abe “a frontrunner with nice imaginative and prescient” who “introduced the connection between our nations, the US and Japan, to new heights”.

Japan’s longest-serving chief died on Friday after being shot whereas campaigning for a parliamentary election.

Abe, who sought to raise the financial system out of power deflation together with his daring “Abenomics” insurance policies, beef up the army and counter China’s rising clout, died at 67.

Listed below are some reactions from world wide:

CHINA

The Chinese language embassy in Japan expressed condolences over the demise of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday in a taking pictures assault.

“Former Prime Minister Abe made contributions in the direction of bettering China-Japan relations throughout his time period. We specific our condolences on his demise and ship our sympathies to his household,” an embassy spokesman mentioned on the embassy web site.

ITALY

“Italy is shocked by this horrible assault, which hits Japan and free democratic debate. Abe was an incredible protagonist of Japanese and worldwide political life in latest many years, due to his revolutionary spirit and his reforming imaginative and prescient. Italy sends its condolences to his household, to the federal government and to the complete Japanese folks,” mentioned Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

TAIWAN

“Not solely has the worldwide neighborhood misplaced an necessary chief, however Taiwan has additionally misplaced an necessary and shut pal. Taiwan and Japan are each democratic nations with the rule of regulation, and our authorities severely condemns violent and unlawful acts,” Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen mentioned in an announcement launched by her workplace.

SOUTH KOREA

“I ship my condolences to the bereaved households and Japanese individuals who have misplaced the longest-serving prime minister and revered politician in Japan’s constitutional historical past,” South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol was quoted as saying in an announcement delivered by the presidential workplace.

Yoon added that the taking pictures was “an unforgivable act of crime”.

POLAND

“I’m deeply shocked by the information of the assassination of @AbeShinzo,” Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki wrote on Twitter. “My ideas are with the household of our Japanese pal who was at all times very variety to Poland. Might he Relaxation In Peace.”

UNITED KINGDOM

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth mentioned she was “deeply saddened” by the demise of the previous prime minister.

“My household and I had been deeply saddened to listen to the information of the sudden and tragic demise of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,” mentioned the 96-year-old monarch, who added she had fond reminiscences of assembly Abe and his spouse throughout their 2016 go to to Britain.

“I want to convey my deepest sympathy and condolences to his household and to the folks of Japan at this troublesome time.”

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson mentioned on Twitter: “Extremely unhappy information about Shinzo Abe.”

“His world management by way of unchartered occasions can be remembered by many. My ideas are together with his household, pals and the Japanese folks.”

“The UK stands with you at this darkish and unhappy time.”

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