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Japan
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Japan’s Kishida taps pro-Taiwan MP as new defence minister in cabinet shake-up

  • PM Fumio Kishida also replaced his foreign minister on Wednesday in a reshuffle to shore up support that saw a record five women enter the cabinet
  • Minoru Kihara, Japan’s new defence minister, served under a former PM and is a senior member of a bipartisan group aimed at promoting ties with Taiwan

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Japan’s new Defence Minister Minoru Kihara in Tokyo on Wednesday, the day of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s cabinet reshuffle. Photo: Reuters
Agence France-PresseandKyodo
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida replaced his defence and foreign ministers on Wednesday while also increasing the number of women in the cabinet to a joint record.

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi was replaced by former justice minister and veteran lawmaker Yoko Kamikawa, one of five women in the new cabinet, while Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada was succeeded by Minoru Kihara, government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno said.

Kihara served as a special adviser to former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and is a senior member of a bipartisan group aimed at promoting ties with Taiwan.
Yoko Kamikawa, Japan’s newly appointed foreign minister and one of the five women in Kishida’s new cabinet, arrives at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo on Wednesday. Photo: AP
Yoko Kamikawa, Japan’s newly appointed foreign minister and one of the five women in Kishida’s new cabinet, arrives at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo on Wednesday. Photo: AP

Kishida, a dovish moderate, hopes the revamp will give a boost to his administration, paving the way for his Liberal Democratic Party to emerge victorious from the next House of Representatives election and strengthening support from within his party before the LDP presidential race in 2024.

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Out of 19 ministers, Kishida selected 11 new faces as he moves to create a fresh image for his cabinet while keeping several key members to maintain stability. r.

Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno and industry minister Yasutoshi Nishimura remained in their positions. Matsuno and Nishimura are known for their conservative policy positions.

The reshuffle comes as support rates for Kishida’s cabinet have continued to slide due partly to problems with the “My Number” national identification card system and public frustration over rising prices in the absence of salary increases.
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