Abe Shinzo Forum Held in Tokyo; Akie Abe: His Ideas Are Sprouting Worldwide

(Central News Agency, Tokyo, 9th, reporter Tai Ya-chen) Akie Abe, the widow of the late former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, stated on the 9th that her husband sowed many seeds around the world during his lifetime, and these ideas are now gradually sprouting, blossoming, and bearing fruit. She expressed her hope to continue this legacy and to help more people understand Shinzo Abe's thoughts and contributions through related research and exchange activities.

The "International Forum on Shinzo Abe and Modern Japanese Studies," hosted by the Abe Shinzo Research Center at Taiwan's National Chengchi University (NCCU), was held in Tokyo on the same day. President Lai Ching-te delivered a speech via pre-recorded video, and Presidential Advisor Chiu Yi-ren gave a keynote address. Akie Abe, Taiwan's Representative to Japan Lee Yi-yang, and Sakurai Yoshiko, Chairperson of the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals, also attended.

In her speech, Akie Abe mentioned that the Abe Shinzo Research Center was established in Taiwan on September 21 last year, which would have been Shinzo Abe's birthday. She noted that today, June 9, marks the 39th anniversary of their wedding, making the forum's timing particularly meaningful and moving for her.

She also recalled that a bronze statue of Shinzo Abe was erected in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in the year of his death. During her fourth visit to the statue recently, she was warmly welcomed by local residents, with some even telling her, "This is your home; you are always welcome back," which deeply moved her.

Akie Abe said that while accompanying her husband on his travels, she did not fully understand his diplomatic work. However, after his passing, she has traveled the world and profoundly felt the trust and expectations the international community had for him.

"Wherever I go, people warmly welcome me and say, 'If Mr. Abe were still alive, the world would not be the way it is now.' I am truly grateful to my husband for this warm reception," she said. During a recent trip to Brazil for an event with the Japanese diaspora community, many people also expressed gratitude for the Abe administration's policies supporting overseas Japanese communities.

"There are still many things I don't know, and many things my husband did around the world that the Japanese media doesn't report much on. In the future, I hope to convey these things in my own way," Akie Abe stated.

She said that Abe sowed many seeds, and those seeds are now sprouting, blossoming, bearing fruit, and sowing new seeds again. "I hope to play the role of watering and fertilizing, and I hope this forum can play that role as well," she added.

In his speech, Representative Lee Yi-yang noted that Shinzo Abe was the first to propose the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" (FOIP) vision to the international community, making significant contributions to peace and stability in the region. He also put forward the important assertion that "a contingency in Taiwan is a contingency for Japan and for the Japan-U.S. alliance."

Lee pointed out that Taiwan is not only the most important supply chain base for global AI hardware manufacturing but also a core component of the AI revolution. Defending Taiwan is not just a regional security issue; it is directly related to the competitive advantage of democratic nations in the AI and high-tech sectors. He emphasized that any conflict in the Taiwan Strait would have a massive impact on the global economy and supply chains, making the maintenance of peace and stability in the strait critically important.

Lee stated that in the face of China's increasing military pressure on Taiwan, Taiwan has raised its defense budget to 3.32% of GDP this year, demonstrating its determination to enhance self-defense capabilities. Japan has also upgraded its FOIP strategy, continuously strengthening its defense forces in accordance with international law and deepening security cooperation with like-minded countries. He believes that Taiwan, Japan, the United States, and other democratic partners should further strengthen cooperation to jointly uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific order.

Sakurai Yoshiko expressed deep admiration for Taiwan's establishment of the Abe Shinzo Research Center and its plans to create an Abe Shinzo Library. She lamented that Japan still lacks a memorial facility commensurate with Abe's historical stature, while Taiwan has taken the lead in preserving his thoughts and spirit through research centers and other means.

Lee Shih-hui, Director of the NCCU Abe Shinzo Research Center, said in an interview that since its inception, the center has aimed to hold an international forum on Shinzo Abe studies in Japan. The goal is to objectively present Abe's significant impact on regional peace and stability, Taiwan Strait security, and Taiwan-Japan relations through the research findings of a third party like Taiwan. The forum centered on Abe's most representative "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" concept, focusing on Taiwan-Japan relations under the Indo-Pacific strategy, and explored the importance of the Indo-Pacific strategy and Taiwan-Japan cooperation from the perspectives of Taiwan, the U.S., and Japan.

He noted that the center will promote "Abe Juku" (Abe Academy) in the future to deepen research work and offer related courses in Taiwan and Japan. This aims to attract young politicians, entrepreneurs, and the younger generation to understand Shinzo Abe's ideas and strategies, as well as their significance for Taiwan, regional security, and Taiwan-Japan relations. (Editor: Tang Shengyang) 1150609