Blinken is in Southeast Asia for meetings with world leaders. The State Department did not specify which officials Blinken will meet while in Tokyo. Blinken’s visit comes as the investigation continues into the alleged gunman’s motives and weapons, as well as the security protocols in place, and as Japan holds Upper House elections. A victory for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, of which Abe and current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are members, would pave the way for Kishida to implement some of his most ambitious and controversial policies in the coming years. “Minister Blinken will travel to Tokyo, Japan to offer condolences to the Japanese people on the death of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo and meet with senior Japanese officials. The US-Japan alliance is the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and has never been stronger,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Sunday. Blinken will depart Bangkok for Tokyo on Sunday night local time. Hudson reported from Bangkok.
