Japan PM hopeful says he may need help from Abe on diplomacy

Japanese prime minister hopeful Yoshihide Suga said Saturday that he lacks kind of diplomatic skills that outgoing leer Shinzo Abe has, including Abe's personal friendship with President Donald Trump, and that he will need his assistance if he assumes top job.

Abe in late August anunced his intention to step down as prime minister due to health problems. He has led Japan since he returned to power in December 2012 for a second stint as prime minister.

Suga, chief Cabinet secretary, is expected to win Monday's party election and n be endorsed in a parliamentary vote on Wednesday because of majority held by ruling bloc. Abe has travelled to 80 overseas destinations during his tenure, bringing stability and consistency to Japanese diplomacy and raising country's profile in international community, experts say. He was ted especially for developing a personal friendship with Trump.

“Prime Minister Abe's leership diplomacy was truly amazing. I don't think I can match that,” Suga said as he joined two or contenders at a public debate. Former Defense Minister Shiberu Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida are also in race.

I think re is a diplomatic stance that would fit me and I will stick to my own style, while also seeking assistance from Foreign Ministry. And of course I will consult with (Abe), Suga said.

Suga served as a policy coordinator and viser to Abe, point man behind centralised power of Prime Minister's Office and its influence over bureaucrats in implementing policies. son of a strawberry farmer in rrn Japan and a self-me politician, Suga is a rarity in country's largely hereditary world of politics.

But despite his influence and his political skills at home, Suga has hardly traveled overseas, and his diplomatic skills are unkwn, though he is largely expected to pursue Abe's priorities.

Abe failed to achieve his goals to settle a territorial row and sign a peace treaty with Russia or to rmalize ties with rth Korea.Suga would also inherit unfinished business on or challenges. China continues its assertive actions in East China Sea. He will have to decide what to do with Tokyo Olympics, and tackle COVID-19 and ecomic fallout.

And he will have to establish a good relationship with whoever wins U.S. presidential race.

“Suga has demonstrated influence in domestic policies, but his diplomatic skills are unkwn,” said Yu Uchiyama, a University of Tokyo politics professor. “But I think re will be little change."

(Im Credits:Twitter/sugawitter)