Kishida opens diplomacy rush as Japan preps divisive funeral

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held a series of meetings with foreign dignitaries Monday in what he's called “funeral diplomacy" the day before he hosts a controversial state-sponsored ceremony for former leader Shinzo Abe.

Kishida has been criticized for pushing for Tuesday's formal state funeral for Abe, who was assassinated in July, amid questions over their ruling party's close ties with the Unification Church, accused of brainwashing its adherents, and doubts over the legitimacy of a state event with links to prewar imperial Japan.

Kishida says the honor is fitting for the longest-serving leader in Japan’s modern political history. He has also said it will allow him to meet personally with visiting foreign leaders and forge stronger ties at a time where Japan faces a host of urgent issues in northeast Asia and the world, from Chinese and North Korean military aggression to worries over regional economic and security matters.

In a rush of planned meetings, Kishida is to hold talks with about 40 foreign dignitaries over the next few days at the Akasaka palace in Tokyo.

Later Monday, Kishida is to meet with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and have a state dinner. Before that he plans to meet with Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte and about 10 other foreign dignitaries.

On Tuesday, he is set to hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

China, a sometimes harsh critic of what it saw as the conservative Abe's moves to expand Japan's military and whitewash history, will send former Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang, whose title is sufficiently politically neutral as to raise few eyebrows. He is also the head of the China Zhiong Party, one of eight figurehead bodies tasked with advising the ruling Communist Party and giving China the veneer of a multiparty democracy.

Wan is also a ranking member of the legislature’s toothless advisory body, with a specialty in the auto industry. Wan is not known to have had any connections to Japan, the Japanese Diet or with the Abe family.

Other leaders from Group of Seven countries and many others who attended Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in London last week won't be at Abe's funeral. South Korea is sending Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who is set to meet with Kishida on Wednesday.

Political watchers say holding a state funeral for Abe is an attempt by Kishida to stabilize his grip on power by placating ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers belonging to Abe’s conservative political faction.