Former Japanese Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe’s assassination is simply devastating. It is a terrible loss for
Japan and for the free world.

In a time in which the word
“statesman” is bandied with abandon, Abe was a true statesman. A staunch
defender of the post-WWII world order, despite his country’s responsibility for
that war and its own resulting destruction, Abe led his country back to
the center of geopolitics. Not in spite of, but because of Japan’s dark
history, Abe celebrated the importance of democracy and freedom in
international politics, becoming one of Taiwan’s most ardent defenders. In
this, as in much else, he was ahead of his time; even the United States was not
yet ready to meet China’s gathering threats. Given the attention the
democratic island now receives, it is difficult to remember how neglected and
isolated it was when Abe paid attention.

Nor was Abe simply a man of
clear principles; he was also a visionary who authored the concept of a “free
and open Indo-Pacific,” a strategy both Presidents Trump and Biden have
embraced. It is an answer to the People’s Republic of China’s attempts to
dominate Asia with its authoritarian and mercantilist vision. If the US
seriously pursues, builds, and defends such an order with Japan, we will live
in a prosperous and free century. But Abe knew that a “free and open
Indo-Pacific” is difficult work, and we can falter.

He moved his pacifist country
incrementally, as was necessary to embrace a stronger defense posture and
alliance with the United States. Like Winston Churchill, Abe was a
great friend of the United States, patient with Washington, knowing that it
would take time before the United States would fully understand the dangerous
world we live in. He was a tutor and mentor to American leaders.

Though he was uniquely alive to
the emerging authoritarian great power menace, Abe always sought out peace
first. He tried to reconcile with Vladimir Putin in the hope that Japan and
Russia could settle their territorial disputes. But he was quick to
condemn Putin’s aggression against Ukraine and to urge Japan to support NATO in
its resistance to Russia’s war. He quickly drew a parallel between Putin’s
actions in Europe and China’s ambitions in Asia. Abe could see that a
threat to foundational principles of order in one region could fast spread,
like a contagion, to rest of the world.

What Henry Kissinger has said on
statesmanship describes Abe:

“Statesman create; ordinary
leaders consume. The ordinary leader is satisfied with ameliorating the
environment, not transforming it; a statesman must be a visionary and an
educator.”

Abe was a creator, a visionary, and an educator. He led his country as far as it could go in the moment, and brought the US along. This century has not produced world-transforming statesmen—a problem philosophers of history will surely confront for some time. Yet, despite Japan’s self-imposed limitations, Abe was the closest to such a leader. As more dangers to peace and freedom gather he will be sorely missed. Rest in peace.

The post The Death of Shinzo Abe, a Devastating Loss appeared first on American Enterprise Institute – AEI.