Secy. Blinken offers condolences for Shinzo Abe during last minute stop in Tokyo
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the media before boarding his airplane at Yokota Air Base in Fussa on the outskirts of Tokyo Monday, July 11, 2022. (Stefani Reynolds/Pool Photo via AP)
OAN NEWSROOM
UPDATED 8:38 AM PT – Tuesday, July 12, 2022
Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Japan to offer his condolences over the death of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. According to reports, the US official made a last minute stop in Tokyo and met with current Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to pay tribute to the late politician.
Ahead of his trip, Blinken noted that the US Japan alliance is the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and has never been stronger. This comes as Abe was assassinated by a gunman in broad daylight while he was giving a speech last week.
“We saw in him something rare, a man of vision who had the ability to realize that vision,” Blinken stated. “But mostly, I came at the President’s behest because more than allies, we are friends. And when a friend is hurting, other friends show up. We try to help ease the burden, share the sense of loss.”
Shortly after Abe was pronounced dead, Blinken met in Bali with Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin to review strategy mainly related to North Korea. He added that Abe’s death had shaken the G20 meeting and left many of his foreign minister colleagues expressing shock and distress at the news.
Per pool: Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he shares "the very deep condolences of the United States" with his Japanese counterpart, adding, "this is shocking… he [Abe] brought the relationship between the U.S. and Japan to new heights during his time in office." (1)
— Stephanie Myers (@_StephanieMyers) July 8, 2022
In light of this tragedy, Prime Minister Kishida vowed to carry on Abe’s goals for Japan.