The escalation of Chinese military activity in the Taiwan Strait, the coronavirus, the uncontrollable inflation brought on by the Russia-Ukraine war, Tokyo’s economy, and rising inflation are just a few of the urgent issues that Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida scrambled to address on Saturday, according to Kyodo news. After the murder of former prime minister Shinzo Abe, he is also facing increasing pressure to appoint new personnel to the Unification Church and restore its connection with politicians from the ruling party.
Despite the fact that Kishida, the prime minister of Japan, withheld many specifics regarding his cabinet reorganisation, Yomiuri newspaper stated that Nobuo Kishi, the latter’s defence minister, would probably be replaced owing to Kishi’s chronic health concerns. The action takes place in the midst of heightened regional tensions between self-governing Taiwan, a neighbour of Tokyo, and mainland China over US Speaker’s provocative visit. After holding a state mourning service for the assassinated former premier Abe, Kishida announced his intention to replace the Cabinet in the first few days of September. After Kishida’s conservative coalition administration won a resounding win in the July elections by a majority in the upper chamber of parliament, the Cabinet is currently being reorganised.
“I’ve been always thinking about making a new start with new members, given the challenges,” Kishida said at a press conference in Hiroshima held during an event to commemorate the 77th anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the Japanese city of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Japan calls for Taiwan-China ‘stability’
After US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s contentious visit to the self-governing island sparked a military uptick, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi appealed for a peaceful conclusion during the ASEAN-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. As China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) engaged in live-fire drills utilising artillery and missiles while using Pelosi’s visit as an excuse for aggression, Hayashi emphasised the importance of keeping peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
The Japanese minister urged prudence from mainland China and reaffirmed Tokyo’s unwavering commitment to the democratically self-governing island. Japan sees a direct connection between Taiwan’s security and its own national security as the Chinese PLA’s fortification of the island overshadows its own defences, which are only 110 kilometres (68 miles) away in East Asia.
