Schedule Changed, US Secretary of State Visits Japan: "Mourning Abe, 'Defender of the US-Japan Alliance'"

Also Bringing President Biden's Letter to Convey to the Bereaved Family

On the 11th, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) and Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel visited Japan.
[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken visited Japan on the 11th and met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to express condolences regarding the shooting death of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

According to NHK and other sources, after attending the Group of Twenty (G20) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Secretary Blinken visited Japan and paid a visit to Prime Minister Kishida at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Tokyo for about 10 minutes, conveying the U.S. government's condolences. Originally, he was scheduled to visit Bangkok, Thailand, on the same day, but changed his itinerary following the death of former Prime Minister Abe under the direction of U.S. President Joe Biden.

Secretary Blinken said, "Former Prime Minister Abe was a steadfast advocate of the U.S.-Japan alliance and left a significant contribution by promoting cooperation with like-minded countries, including the United States, under the forward-looking vision of a 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific.'"

In response, Prime Minister Kishida said, "I deeply appreciate the warm sentiments from the U.S., including Secretary Blinken's visit to Japan and President Biden's condolence call." He added, "As the incumbent prime minister, I will steadfastly protect democracy against violence and continue to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance by carrying on former Prime Minister Abe's legacy."

After the meeting, Secretary Blinken told reporters that he also brought a letter from President Biden to be delivered to the bereaved family of former Prime Minister Abe.

Earlier, on the day of the incident, the 8th, President Biden visited the Japanese Ambassador's Residence in Washington D.C., where the wake for former Prime Minister Abe was held, to pay his respects, and the following day, he called Prime Minister Kishida to express his condolences.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.