Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda Dies at 90

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda died of heart failure at a hospital in Tokyo on October 22 at the age of 90, according to the Liberal Democratic Party.

Fukuda served as prime minister from 2007 to 2008 after the sudden resignation of Shinzo Abe. The son of former prime minister Takeo Fukuda, he was the first son of a prime minister to hold the office. His tenure was marked by a commitment to closer ties with Asian neighbors, particularly China, where he established stable relations with Hu Jintao. He resigned in 2008 due to a divided parliament and a stalled legislative process.

Following his retirement in 2012, Fukuda continued to act as a diplomacy expert. In 2014, he held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping to thaw bilateral relations, which paved the way for a subsequent visit by Shinzo Abe. He also served as chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia and visited the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China expressed deep condolences, with spokesperson Guo Jiakun describing Fukuda as an "old friend of China" who maintained a "correct view of history." Guo stated that the current Japanese government should "look inward and do serious soul-searching," contrasting current leadership with the responsibility shown by Fukuda's generation of statesmen.