Following Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s announcement of his resignation, The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, and Deutsche Welle assessed his achievements in economic policy, diplomacy, national security, free trade, and political stability.

September 7, 2020
Following Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s announcement of his resignation, leading media outlets in the United States, Britain, and Germany calmly analyzed and highly praised the achievements of the Abe administration in the economy, diplomacy and national security, free trade, and political stability.
It is worth recording once again the perspective from abroad, which differs markedly from the assessments offered by some Japanese media organizations and so-called cultural figures.
The following is from “Points of Debate Around the World: Prime Minister Abe’s Resignation Announcement—Do Not Squander His ‘Achievements’: The United States and Europe,” published on page 7 of today’s Sankei Shimbun.
Following Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s announcement of his resignation, American and European media looked back on his accomplishments in such fields as the economy, diplomacy, and national security, and assessed that Prime Minister Abe had transformed Japan.
They also pointed out that some elements of his economic policy, “Abenomics,” and constitutional revision had not been realized, while calmly analyzing his achievements.
On August 31, the electronic edition of the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal published an editorial titled “Japan’s Longest-Serving Prime Minister Sought to Turn Japan into a Normal Country.”
Regarding economic policy, it said that he “undertook Abenomics” in an effort to rescue the Japanese economy from the abnormal condition of prolonged “stagnation without growth.”
Regarding the “three arrows” of Abenomics—flexible fiscal policy, bold monetary policy, and a growth strategy—the newspaper stated that “only the first two arrows flew against the headwinds,” but nevertheless praised his determination to carry out reforms, saying that he had “won important victories” in areas including the encouragement of investment and immigration-related policies.
As his economic legacy, it cited his “extraordinary monetary-easing measures.”
In politics and diplomacy as well, he sought to make Japan a “normal country.”
Although constitutional revision was not realized, he improved the capabilities of the Self-Defense Forces and worked to strengthen relations with allied and friendly countries.
Regarding his meeting with U.S. President Trump earlier than the leaders of other countries, the newspaper assessed that it was “wise and led to the establishment of a good relationship.”
In an editorial on August 30 titled “Shinzo Abe’s Legacy Must Not Be Squandered,” the electronic edition of Britain’s Financial Times praised Prime Minister Abe for bringing new ideas and energy to Japan.
The newspaper praised his leadership, saying that Prime Minister Abe used the Prime Minister’s Office to mobilize Japan’s “cautious bureaucrats” and made them undertake new economic policies.
Although the consumption-tax increases offset part of the effects of the economic stimulus measures and not everything envisioned under Abenomics was achieved, the newspaper recalled that “with the help of a weaker yen, both economic growth and employment improved under the Abe administration.”
At a time when the future of the global free-trade system was in doubt, it also praised the administration, saying that “the Abe administration promoted important new agreements.”
It cited the entry into force of the Economic Partnership Agreement between Japan and the European Union and the preservation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership even after the withdrawal of the United States.
In an article distributed on August 28, the electronic edition of Germany’s international broadcaster Deutsche Welle introduced an expert’s view that Prime Minister Abe’s “greatest achievement” was bringing stability to politics.
It listed his accomplishments in diplomacy and national security, including the establishment of the National Security Council and the relaxation of the principles governing arms exports.
It highly praised the prime minister’s record by quoting an expert who said, “His successor will inherit the strongest Japan the world has ever seen.”
(Kazuyuki Sakamoto)
*The Asahi Shimbun, NHK, and others, the so-called cultural figures, and South Korea must now “learn from Germany”!
The overseas reports cited above did not unconditionally approve everything undertaken by the Abe administration.
While pointing out policies that were not realized and issues that remained unresolved, they assessed, on the basis of facts, the administration’s achievements in Japan’s economy, diplomacy and national security, free trade, and political stability.
It is precisely this calm assessment that the Asahi Shimbun, NHK, and others, the so-called cultural figures, and South Korea must now learn from.
The original and definitive version of this article will be published on the official website.