Abe Resigns -- Who Will Be the Biggest Losers?

Sept. 13, 2007 — -- Shinzo Abe stepped down Wednesday as prime minister of Japan amid adismal approval rating, loss of Japan's upper house of parliament insummer elections and ongoing scandals. While the Liberal DemocraticParty searches for a successor (election for such to take place onSept. 19), Japan is faced with a number of important and possiblyimperative questions moving forward.

On the domestic political front,is there a candidate who can fill the shoes of former Prime MinisterKoizumi, who had the unique ability to cross party lines (even his own)to get things done, while keeping public support? Abe failed, miserablyat times, but is there a good alternative and what does it mean forJapan if there is not?

On the foreign policy front, will Japan continueto support U.S. efforts in Afghanistan against the heavy opposition ofpoliticians from the Democratic Party? Equally important, will Abe'ssuccessor continue to mend bridges between Japan, China and Korea, orreturn to a policy of annual visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, whichheightened tensions in the region?

As much of the focus will inevitably be placed on the first twoquestions above, it is the last that may have the greatest long-termimpact.

While economic relations were strong, political relations between Japanand China and Japan and South Korea were at historic low points prior toAbe coming to power. The historical impact of Japan'swartime actions in China and South Korea still runs deep in thesecountries and rising nationalism in both further fuels the fire ignitedby the slightest political misstep.

Further, as a result of Koizumi's annual visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, issues oftextbook revisions and suggestions that Japan become a more "normal"power (read: take on a stronger military role in the region), politicalrelations had soured to levels not seen in quite some time, prior toAbe.

This is the international environment into which Abestepped upon taking office in the fall of 2006. Bucking this trend, and feedingoff his reputation as a strong nationalist (a la Richard Nixon andChina), Abe moved quickly to repair relations with bothcountries.