Koizumi's mission

Koizumi's mission

There was a time when newly elected Japanese leaders went on
their pilgrimage of ASEAN countries bearing generous aid packages
for its less well-off Southeast Asian neighbors. Because Japan is
mired in deep recession, the custom has changed.

(Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi) comes bearing an all-
encompassing proposal to strengthen Japan's economic ties with
Southeast Asia. He envisions an open economic relationship which
links Japan with ASEAN, China, South Korea, Australia, New
Zealand and the United States. This is a big, inclusive concept
which leaves no one important out. Can Japan deliver?

Japan is responding to China's move to establish the world's
largest free-trade area with ASEAN. This sort of competition
gives ground for cautious optimism. It is inconceivable that
Tokyo is content to stand back and watch its perceived economic
influence wane because it is outdone by Beijing.

If Tokyo is to foster closer ties with Southeast Asia, it
cannot get too preoccupied with its own economic morass and let
China pass it by. Its "new age" economic partnership with
Singapore is a good model. But Tokyo is reluctant to take
chances. Which is why the Japanese have to be stung into action,
in this case by the Chinese initiative, to open up.

Tokyo should thus be bold and imaginative to, in Mr Koizumi's
words, "build an economic community with the ASEAN countries that
carries some sense of oneness". Yes, proceed step by step, but
there must be no doubts about moving decisively for regional
economic integration. Would he be the one to break the mold and
get things started?

-- The Straits Times, Singapore