Japan’s Cabinet Reshuffle: PM Abe Appoints New Defense Minister

Local Editor

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe replaced the country’s defense minister in a cabinet reshuffle while other key government positions were left largely unchanged.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, who was reappointed, announced the lineup for the new cabinet, with key ministers including finance minister Taro Aso and foreign minister Taro Kono staying on.

Itsunori Onodera, however, defense minister since August 2017, was replaced by Takeshi Iwaya, 61, a veteran politician who has had short stints in roles including vice minister for defense and foreign affairs.

The reshuffle follows Abe's reelection as leader of his Liberal Democratic Party last month, which puts him on track to become Japan's longest-serving prime minister.

"It was no surprise that Abe focused on stability rather than a challenge," said Tomoaki Iwai, professor of Japanese politics at Nihon University.

"Abe prioritized imminent tasks such as a fight against deflation so that he can consolidate his power before tackling a revision of the constitution," Iwai told AFP.

After winning a historic third term as LDP head last month, Abe vowed to press ahead with plans to revise Japan's pacifist constitution, which remains a controversial proposition.

Meanwhile, Japan continues to focus on the threat posed by North Korea despite easing tensions on the Korean peninsula and international negotiations on Pyongyang's denuclearization.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team