This is a sequel to the earlier posting on Japan dated October 2. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's landslide election victory in September, 2005 resulted in his administration securing a two thirds majority in the lower house. This will reinforce ongoing Japanese efforts to enhance its international profile. I will not cover Koizumi's domestic reform agenda except to mention that his government successfully pushed through legislation today to privatize Japan Post. Japan Post, which also serves as a Savings Bank, is possibly the largest financial institution in the world with US$ 3.2 trillion in assets.
The Koizumi administration is lobbying for a permanent Japanese seat at the United Nations Security Council. Tokyo highlights the fact that Japan is the second largest contributor to the United Nations and has been involved in several peace keeping operations in recent years, Iraq being a noteworthy example. While Article 9 of the Japanese constitution forbids the use of force in international disputes, the United States has urged a greater Japanese role in the fight against terror. It has hinted that increased levels of Japanese participation in collective security efforts will win it American support for a permanent seat at the Security Council. With this end in mind, the Koizumi administration is likely to initiate a debate on the constitution to allow increased Japanese participation in international military efforts.
Junichiro Koizumi is keen to leave a legacy of a strengthened Japanese presence on the international stage, a move viewed with concern by China. India and Japan share a strategic convergence with regards to (i) energy issues; (ii) security of sea lanes in the Indian Ocean; (iii) nuclear non-proliferation; and (iv) permanent membership in the security council. This is witnessed in Indo-Japanese cooperation in the gas fields of Sakhalin in Russia's Far East, a coordinated response in the immediate aftermath of the tsunami in Aceh, convergence on the issue of Iran and North Korea, and UN reform. Like the 16th century Shogun Nobunaga, Koizumi views himself as Japan's unifier in a fluid international environment. It is in India's interest that he succeed in his efforts.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Followers
Blog Archive
-
▼
2005
(581)
-
▼
October
(69)
- Diwali
- Indonesia: The Aceh Peace Accord
- War And Peace
- Indira Gandhi
- Bird Flu
- Tenacity and Grit
- American Malaise
- Stalin and Mao
- Idiocy Watch
- Bhimrao Ambedkar
- A Pot Calling the Kettle Black
- Nonsense Watch
- Kashmir in 1947: A Viewpoint
- East Turkestan
- Et Tu, RSS?
- Syria
- Taxation in Hindu Law
- Indo-Antarctica
- West Asia: The Times They Are A-Changin!
- Tibet and China
- Capital Punishment
- Maryam Namazie
- The Allahabad High Court and Aligarh Muslim Univer...
- Revisioning Indian history
- Sinic Space
- The Chechen Quagmire
- Manipuri Meltdown
- Suicide In Syria
- Kashmir
- Civil Liberties: A Rethink
- How 'Bout Those Chickens!
- Indian Eye on Koizumi
- Malicious Reporting By Associated Press
- A Profile In Courage
- Terrorism In Kashmir
- Nuclear Tae Kwon Do
- Doesn't Musharraf Get Lives Are At Stake?
- Doesn't Delhi Know What's At Stake?
- The Lebanese Phoenix?
- Paradise Rocked
- Tough Day On Terra Firma
- Iran & Syria
- Indonesia
- Maoist Alert in India
- Reflections on Bengal and Madras in the 1700s
- Sidelining Bangladesh
- II What?
- Hinduism and Caste: A Radical Reinterpretation
- Honor In War
- Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
- Sunni- Shi'ite Dynamics
- Goodbye Lenin!
- Ingrate Bangladeshi Calls India "Evil"
- India's Alternate Sea Lanes?
- Iran
- The Judiciary and India's Dalits
- Sarabjit Singh
- Sakhalin
- Senseless Census
- British India's War Dead: A Tribute
- The Wisdom Of Shaukat Aziz
- Great Expectations
- Sino-Japanese billiards: Indic Perspectives
- Déjà Vu In Bali
- Sarabjit Singh
- Tom Lantos
- Nepal - A Crisis at India's Doorstep
- Intelligent Evolution
- Welcoming Jaffna
-
▼
October
(69)
1 comment:
indeed Jaffna, a Japan responsible for its defense, a prosperous Vietnam, a self confident Russia and India as the broker of this Asian alliance can contain Chinese belligerence. Natwar Singh is just not able to grasp this simple fact. And the Indian Communists do not help either.
Post a Comment