It is not an overstatement to say that the late prime minister Shinzo Abe single-handedly promoted Japan's regional and international profile through unconventional economic and security policies. Abe linked his country's economic policies with security and strategic twists in its relations with the rest of the world, Asean in particular.
For his supporters, Abe was a visionary Japanese leader who wanted to see his country as a great power that could stand on par with other greats such as the US, China, Russia and the European Union (EU). In addition, given the uncertainty in the global strategic landscape, Abe also desired to increase Japan's capability to impact regional and international rule of law and orders. Japan wants to sustain the stability and prosperity that had propelled the the Land of the Rising Sun to world economic power status.
