Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the country’s longest-serving prime minister, announced that he would resign from the position due to his worsening condition of ulcerative colitis – the same disease Abe has been battling for decades and ended his first stint as PM in 2007. Abe’s abrupt resignation comes at a time when Japan faces various uncertainties at home and abroad.
Domestically, Japan is challenged by an ongoing threat of COVID, the economic downturn caused by COVID, and the task of preparing for the upcoming Tokyo Olympic games. Internationally, there is a rising level of Chinese assertiveness in the region, intensifying geopolitical and economic competitions between the U.S. and China, and the uncertainty of future U.S. policy amid the upcoming Presidential election.
How do the Rising Powers perceive Abe’s political legacy and the absence of his leadership in the future? In this RPI Policy Alert, we survey the Rising Powers’ reactions to Abe’s sudden resignation. Read the full Policy Alert here.
