A regional statesman bows out

Scott Morrison spoke for the nation on Friday when he praised the “leadership, generosity and vision” of outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, describing him as a “true friend” of Australia. As Mr Morrison said, the unprecedented closeness of the vital strategic and economic relationship that now exists between Tokyo and Canberra owes much to the initiative and tireless work of Mr Abe, who, at 65 and after eight years in office, is leaving to deal with worsening health challenges from ulcerative colitis.

Mr Abe has been Japan’s most consequential political leader since World War II. The importance of having Japan accepted as a “normal country” entitled to assume responsibility for its defence would be hard to exaggerate. A law allowing its military forces, constitutionally restricted to self-defence, to operate beyond national borders has permitted it to shift from unsustainable post-war pacifism. Under Mr Abe, Japan has assumed a more muscular posture as a Western ally in defence of freedom and democracy in the Indo-Pacific.

His departure will be a significant loss for Japan, and for the US and the entire Western alliance in confronting escalating Chinese bullying and the threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear weapons. As former US national security adviser John Bolton wrote on Saturday, Mr Abe “is the real progenitor” of the “free and open Indo-Pacific mantra”, now the bedrock of US strategy and of allies such as Australia. He has been crucial in helping confront China’s drive to achieve hegemony, and a major influence in building closer strategic co-operation among Japan, India, Australia and the US. He has also led the way in taking a hard line against Kim Jong-un’s aggressive North Korean regime, demanding the elimination of the threat posed by its nuclear and chemical weapons. Mr Bolton praised Mr Abe’s “disciplined diplomacy”, saying it “was like a heavy metal chain tethering the President (Trump) somewhere proximate to reality, rather than getting lost in the Trump/Kim Jong-un rapture”.

As Mr Morrison said, Japan is one of Australia’s closest partners — an achievement driven by successive Australian PMs and Mr Abe’s “personal leadership and vision, including elevating the relationship to new heights under our Special Strategic Partnership. Today, Australia and Japan share a vision for an open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, strengthened by co-operation between our like-minded countries”.

The 2014 free-trade deal Mr Abe concluded with Australia, as former PM Tony Abbott said, “epitomised his commitment to liberal values as well as to Australia”. It is imperative whoever succeeds him is similarly committed to the relationship with Australia and the broader Western alliance. Finding such a successor may not be easy. Before Mr Abe, Japan had seven PMs in seven years. Possible successors include Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, a former economy minister who executed Mr Abe’s “Abenomics” program and negotiated the Trans-Pacific Partnership alongside Australia; Yoshihide Suga, 71, the chief cabinet secretary close to Mr Abe; Taro Aso, 79, Finance Minister and Mr Abe’s deputy; and Shigeru Ishiba, 63, an abrasive former defence minister who twice ran against Mr Abe for leadership of the LDP. Mr Abe leaves a remarkable legacy and Australians wish him well.