“Abe became prime minister of Japan in 2012 and served until 2020, finishing out as the longest-serving prime minister in Japanese history. He cited poor health as a reason for his resignation. He had assumed office at a time when Japan's economy had been mired by low growth and strong disinflationary headwinds.
To counter this, Abe championed a number of economic reforms such as monetary easing, heightened fiscal stimulus, and other reforms that have become known as Abenomics.
A vocal critic of China, Abe sought to strengthen ties with the United States and the West. He was regarded as a pioneer of the "free and open Indo-Pacific" concept that has since been integrated into the framework for the U.S. strategy for the region. The concept called for stronger coordination between countries with similar interests in the region. The goal was to appeal to smaller nations in the region that had been reluctant to choose a side in the rivalry between the U.S. and China.
Additionally, Abe was known for his efforts to bolster Japan's defense capabilities.”
He is also Anti China hum? From the Washington Examiner https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/former-japanese-prime-minister-shinzo-abe-shot
“Abe became prime minister of Japan in 2012 and served until 2020, finishing out as the longest-serving prime minister in Japanese history. He cited poor health as a reason for his resignation. He had assumed office at a time when Japan's economy had been mired by low growth and strong disinflationary headwinds.
To counter this, Abe championed a number of economic reforms such as monetary easing, heightened fiscal stimulus, and other reforms that have become known as Abenomics.
A vocal critic of China, Abe sought to strengthen ties with the United States and the West. He was regarded as a pioneer of the "free and open Indo-Pacific" concept that has since been integrated into the framework for the U.S. strategy for the region. The concept called for stronger coordination between countries with similar interests in the region. The goal was to appeal to smaller nations in the region that had been reluctant to choose a side in the rivalry between the U.S. and China.
Additionally, Abe was known for his efforts to bolster Japan's defense capabilities.”