Chinese State Media on Alert for Abe Prime Minister Successor

Published 28 Aug.2020 18:22(KST)

Former LDP Secretary-General, Chief Cabinet Secretary, Finance Minister, and LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Mentioned
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[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] When Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe suddenly announced his resignation on the 28th, Chinese state media rushed to deliver breaking news.

Given that Prime Minister Abe recently took a confrontational stance against China over issues such as Hong Kong, leading to a cooling of China-Japan relations, Chinese media showed great interest in Abe's successor.

China Central Television (CCTV) and Xinhua News Agency, representative Chinese state media, cited Japan's Kyodo News on the 28th and urgently reported that Prime Minister Abe had suddenly announced his resignation.

The Xin Jing Bao in an article titled "Who is the leading candidate to succeed Prime Minister Abe?" mentioned former LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso, and LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Fumio Kishida as potential successors.

Zhengquan Shibao pointed out that with Abe's resignation, the "Abenomics" policy he had been promoting is now on trial, and due to excessive debt, aging population, and the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Japanese economy may face significant decline followed by a recession.

The Chinese government expressed its hope to continue developing relations with Japan.

Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was asked for comments on Abe's resignation during a regular briefing that day and responded, "We are paying attention to related reports, but since it is an internal matter of Japan, we will not comment."