[Explanation] On August 10th, local time, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida conducted internal personnel adjustments at the top of the Liberal Democratic Party and reorganized the cabinet.
After the reshuffle, there were 19 cabinet members, of which 5 remained in office and 9 joined the cabinet for the first time.
On the 11th, Guan Zhaoyu, deputy secretary-general and researcher of the Pacific Studies Center of Beijing Foreign Studies University, said that the reshuffle of the cabinet is characterized by rapidity and stability.
[Concurrent] Guan Zhaoyu, deputy secretary-general and researcher of the Pacific Studies Center of Beijing Foreign Studies University
One of the most direct features of this reorganization is the rapid formation of cabinets.
After Abe was assassinated, Kishida wanted to clear out the ministers who were related to the Unification Church in the previous cabinet, and arrange more people he wanted to arrange.
An important reason for the urgency to form a cabinet this time is that Kishida is now facing huge pressure in (Japan), and the approval rate has begun to decline; the third feature This time, among the entire cabinet members, there is a tendency to seek stability and make more Many experienced and professional cabinet officials have entered the cabinet.
[Commentary] This cabinet reshuffle has only been a month since the former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot and killed. Whether Kishida will take this to weaken the influence of the Abe faction is one of the focuses of people's attention.
[Concurrent] Guan Zhaoyu, deputy secretary-general and researcher of the Pacific Studies Center of Beijing Foreign Studies University
Kishida's reorganization actually has a very direct purpose to weaken Abe's influence.
After the re-election of the Abe faction this time, only 4 members remained. Although in terms of faction strength, it is the same as the Kishida faction, with 4 ministers in it, but overall it is already in a relatively weak position.
[Commentary] Guan Zhaoyu believes that in the future, Kishida may further weaken Abe's influence through some reforms and policy adjustments within the party, and the policy goals after the reshuffle of the cabinet will focus on stabilizing the political situation, controlling the epidemic, and improving the economy in the short term. etc.
[Concurrent] Guan Zhaoyu, deputy secretary-general and researcher of the Pacific Studies Center of Beijing Foreign Studies University
For example, in politics, after Abe's death, how to keep the Liberal Democratic Party as the basic governing board stable and pegged, so that there will be no such political turmoil caused by factional splits and internal factional reorganization; the second is the economic issue, whether a new cabinet can Reversing some of these unfavorable trends in the economy; the other is the epidemic problem. If the number of new cases (continuously) increases and there is no continuous improvement, it will be projected on the people's distrust of the Kishida government, and may even have an impact to the stability of Kishida's governance.
[Commentary] It is worth noting that Hamada Jingichi, who visited Taiwan at the end of July, was appointed as the Minister of Defense, and Abe's close associate Takaichi Sanae was appointed as the Minister of Economic Security.
Some analysts pointed out that this may mean that the Japanese government will adopt a tougher policy toward China in terms of defense and economic security.
In this regard, Guan Zhaoyu also gave his own views.
[Concurrent] Guan Zhaoyu, deputy secretary-general and researcher of the Pacific Studies Center of Beijing Foreign Studies University
I think one of the biggest considerations is that he (Kishida) is actually leaving some space for his own relations with China and China policy.
Specific measures can allow tough people to test China's response. As Prime Minister, Kishida actually has room to pull back Sino-Japanese relations.
If you only look at this appointment of personnel, (judging) these tough figures represent that the Kishida government has a detailed strategy to contain China. I think it is still too early.
(Reported by reporter Shan Lu in Beijing)
Responsible editor: [Li Ji]