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WWorld leaders have paid tribute to former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, after he was shot dead while campaigning for his political allies on Friday morning.
Read more: : Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was killed. What we know so far
Fumio Kishida, the current prime minister of Japan, condemned the assassination when he appeared before Japanese journalists after the news of Abe’s death. Kishida described Abe as a “personal friend” with whom he spent a lot of time.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a good friend of Abe’s, announced that July 9 will be a national day of mourning in India as a mark of “deep respect” for the late Japanese leader. Modi recalled how he visited Abe on his most recent trip to Japan, noting that he did not expect that meeting to be his last.
Abe had made great strides to improve diplomatic ties between Japan and India during his tenure, including signing a historic civil nuclear agreement in 2016.
In a declaration, US President Joe Biden said he was “stunned, outraged and deeply saddened” by the news. “Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, his vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific will endure.” Favorite abe strong bonds with Washington in his nearly decade-long reign.
European leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron also shared their condolences. “We are close to the side of Japan in these difficult hours,” Scholz he tweeted. “Japan has lost a great prime minister,” Macron he said.
European Council President Charles Michel condemned the “cowardly” attack on Abe, whom he called “a true friend” and a “fierce defender of the multilateral order and democratic values.” The European Union is a major trade and investment partner of Japan.
In a statement, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Abe was one of Australia’s “closest friends on the world stage”. During his first term in office in 2007, Abe initiated a four-way alliance between Japan, India, the United States and Australia that facilitated security and economic cooperation.
Outgoing UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted that Abe’s “global leadership” will be remembered. “The UK stands with you in this dark and sad time,” he said.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg sent his “deepest condolences” to Abe’s family and Kishida in a tweet. While Japan is not a member of NATO, Abe paved the way for a stronger one partnership with the transatlantic alliance.
A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Japan expressed shock at Abe’s murder in a statement and extend condolences to his family. During his prime ministership, Abe tried to improve relations between Japan and China, but his comments last year about The independence of Taiwan drew criticism from Beijing.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen said in a statement that “the international community has lost an important leader, but Taiwan has also lost an important and close friend. Both Taiwan and Japan are democratic countries with the rule of law , and our government strongly condemns violent and illegal acts.”
South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol sent his condolences to the Japanese people, condemning the shooting as “an act of unforgivable crime.”
Abe became Japan’s longest-serving prime minister before stepping down in 2020 due to ill health. However, he remains one of the most influential political figures in contemporary Japan.
On the streets of Tokyo, locals expressed disbelief. “The shooting of a prominent figure like Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, is deeply shocking,” Kanae Hayakawa, a 36-year-old employee, told TIME. “And now I’m afraid – the fact that such an incident happened here in Japan reflects the social instability and people’s dissatisfaction with society. I really hope that the shooting incident will not cause more instability here. And I wonder also how the incident will impact election Sunday.”
— With reporting by Mayako Shibata in Tokyo and Eloise Barry in London