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By Kaveri Jain (Guest Author)
Delhi, India - 8th July, 2024 marked the second death anniversary of former Japanese Prime Minister Mr. Shinzo Abe. Assassinated by a gunshot while giving a campaign speech in the Japanese district of Nara in 2020, Mr. Abe, who was Japan’s Prime Minister for the longest time, has left an indelible mark on the nation as well as on the global stage.
His tragic demise not only deeply affected the Japanese people but also resonated across the world. Well-known for stimulating Japan’s political and geostrategic positions with his grand policies, active diplomacy and participative leadership, Abe transformed Japan’s political and social standing on the world stage.
Abe was also instrumental in overcoming long-standing bilateral challenges between Japan and fellow democratic nations such as India, USA and Australia and also developing impactful strategic relationships with these nations as well as Southeast Asian nations.
Japan's Domestic Transformation
The prime minister's term from 2006 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2020, was a time during which strong economic policies known as "Abenomics" were introduced to improve the flailing condition of the Japanese economy. It was a program of three steps to lift the economy through aggressive monetary expansion, flexible fiscal policies and structural reforms. Under monetary policy, the Japanese Central Bank, to defeat deflation, applies negative interest rates and buys assets in the market. Fiscal reforms included increased government spending and structural support including corrections to the labour market flexibility, corporate governance and also more women joining the labour force (womenomics) to facilitate long-term positive changes in the structure of the Japanese economy. Additionally, Abe relaxed visa regulations, facilitating increased entry of foreign workers into the Japanese archipelago.
His administration also implemented significant reforms in the health and education sectors. Furthermore, Abe's vision for "Society 5.0" aimed to integrate cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) into daily life, fostering a more connected and efficient society. Prime Minister Abe also made work-related reforms (hatarakikata kaikaku), calling it one of his major policy initiatives even more than an effort to cure two of the most serious ills in the Japanese way of work: dangerously too long working hours and grossly unequal wage gaps between regular and non-regular workers.
He was also the one to champion the military and defense reforms. Abe strongly believed in the necessity of these measures as a counter against regional adversaries like North Korea and China that were coming to the fore. During his period in office, the constitution of Japan which is strongly pacifist, was interpreted in a way that made the Self-Defense Forces (SDFs) more active in terms of participation in the activities concerning international security.
This was to strengthen the SDF and enhance its capabilities by reinterpreting Article 9 of the constitution to allow collective self-defense. Another major step was the establishment of Japan’s first National Security Council to bolster Japan’s security decision-making. He not only succeeded in increasing Japan’s defense budget but also adeptly navigated the complexities of US relations under Donald Trump who had threatened to withdraw U.S. troops from Japan. Through his highly personal diplomacy measures, Abe strengthened ties with global leaders.
Strengthening India-Japan Relations
One of Abe’s most noteworthy foreign policy successes was the deepening of India-Japan relations. Realizing the critical role that India plays on the continent of Asia, Abe succeeded in the establishment of a strong partnership that was based on common democratic values, economic ties and common strategic concerns about regional security. The ties between the two countries were sustained and reinforced via the conceptualization of “Indo-Pacific”, a strategy formulated to make the region free, open, and inclusive. Abe introduced the concept and importance of the Indo-Pacific in his landmark speech ‘Confluence of the Two Seas’ delivered to the Indian Parliament during his visit in 2007.
Abe’s personal bond with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stood as the central point to the intensification of the bilateral ties. Their engagements led to various pivotal turns, including elevating the relationship to a “Special Strategic and Global Partnership” in 2014. Their cooperation expanded from economic and defense to the technology and infrastructure sectors.
Under Abe’s prime ministership, the level of the economic relationship between the two countries went up. Japan came out as the main investor in India, supporting fundamental projects such as the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and the Chennai-Bangalore Industrial Corridor through loans. The bullet train, India’s first high-speed rail project, more commonly known as the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project, was a perfect example of mutual economic benefits between the two countries. Furthermore, Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) made a huge contribution to Indian development; it funded numerous projects in the areas of transportation, energy and urban development as well.
On the military front, Abe was the key advocate of more collaboration between the Japanese Self-Defense Force and the Indian military. The two nations conducted joint naval exercises, such as the Malabar Naval Exercise, including the United States as well, showing their commitment to promoting safe navigation through the Indo-Pacific. Their signing in 2020 of ACSA; which stands for the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, helped to bring close the armed forces of Japan and India, all the more ratcheting up the bond.
Despite the tremendous transformation of India-Japan relations, it is pertinent that both countries have a long way to go to realize the full potential of their ‘natural’ partnership. Economic complementarities, respect for each other’s culture, common strategic concerns and shared values will help us overcome any kind of barrier in taking the relationship to an unprecedented level.
Global Impact: Shaping International Relations and Multilateralism
Beyond Japan and India, Abe's influence was felt far and wide across the international community. Due to his pro-active diplomacy and strategic foresight, the regional and international dynamics took a completely new turn, hence leaving a long-term impact on international relations.
Abe was a key figure who stood up for the international order based on rules and the idea of multilateralism. His active role in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), an expansive trade agreement seeking economic integration and high standards for trade and investment showcased his commitment to these principles. Although The Trans-Pacific Partnership was abandoned by the United States under Donald Trump, Abe presented the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) which maintained the continuity of regional economic integration.
It was in the field of security that Abe was the central figure. He was the one who introduced the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP) concept to the world. Aligning with India’s Act East Policy, this move was aimed at promoting the region of Indo-Pacific as a source of stability, prosperity and friendship. This effectively meant confronting China's aggressive behaviour in the region. Abe’s promotion of FOIP was backed by like-minded countries, the United States, Australia and India, which resulted in the establishment of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad). The Quad, which constitutes the alliance of the four democracies, played the function of a platform that addressed security problems and enhanced the rules-based order in the region.
The fact that Abe held dialogues with big global powers was evident from his connection with the United States. He was totally on board with the US and respected it for being a strong ally against China. Abe empathized and built close connections with Barrack Obama; this was topped off by Obama's visit to Hiroshima in 2016. During Trump's presidency, the teamwork between the two countries had been through some complex phases which Abe carefully steered to keep strong relations despite Trump's fluctuating policies.
Abe also took the initiative to improve relations with neighbouring countries such as South Korea and China. Amid different historical and territorial conflicts, he tried to stabilize relations and promote regional cooperation. His trip to China in 2018 was a great moment that finally brought a thaw in Sino-Japanese relations, thereby, allowing more economic and diplomatic ties to develop.
One of the major accomplishments of Shinzo Abe was his commitment to the promotion of global health and Universal Health Coverage (UHC). He contributed important articles on this subject in The Lancet, one of the most prestigious medical journals. In 2015, he launched Japan’s new Global Health Strategy reiterating the need to tackle health challenges effectively for a more peaceful and healthier world. It was under Abe’s leadership that Japan doubled its support for routine vaccination of children. Japan also launched a global effort (CEPI) to develop vaccines to help prevent pandemics and became its top donor.
Last Thoughts,
The impact of Shinzo Abe is far-reaching spreading over different aspects of domestic, regional and international affairs. He built up Japan's economy, protected its security and called for societal reforms. On the global stage, he imparted speed to Japan’s strategic relationships, particularly with India, and was the advocate for a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. Abe’s proactive diplomacy and strategic foresight have remade the regional and global situations leading to the emergence of new patterns in international relations.
However, it is important to note that Abe’s leadership suffered both negative and positive sides. His nationalist policies and the attempts to change the Japanese pacifist constitution created domestic confrontations and resistance. But his undeniable contributions to Japan’s economic rebirth and global power landscape can't be underestimated. The legacy of Shinzo Abe goes beyond borders, and it stands for a world in which a more active, secure, and interconnected union is realized. His policies continue to live on, shaping the current strategies of Japan under the present Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
(The author is an research scholar at the Amity Institute of International Studies (AIIS). Her doctoral
research focuses on the relations between India and Japan in the Shinzo Abe Era. She is
diligently working to understand the multifaceted relations between India and Japan,
exploring their historical, political, economic, cultural and strategic dimensions.)
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