Obuchi set to push Japan's role in Asia

Obuchi set to push Japan's role in Asia

TOKYO (Reuters): Japan's Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi embarks on a visit to Southeast Asia on Monday in a sign of Tokyo's growing determination to take a leadership role in Asia.

The visit to Cambodia, Laos and Thailand from Jan. 10-15 takes place as Japan prepares to host the Group of Eight (G8) summit of industrialized nations in July.

"Japan is the only Asian member of the G8 and would like to have the voices and concerns of as many Asian countries as possible reflected in the discussions of the G8 leaders," said Akitaka Saiki, an Obuchi spokesman.

Japan has sung this tune in the past but lingering Asian resentment of its actions in World War Two have confined its regional role mostly to economic diplomacy through its Official Development Assistance program.

But attitudes may be changing.

At November's meeting of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), also attended by Japan, China and South Korea, a number of participants said Asian nations must band together or face more domination by the West, particularly in the economic arena.

Japan has won support for joining in Asian criticism of the IMF's handling of the financial crisis which gripped the region in 1997, with critics blaming the Fund for exacerbating the crunch with its menu of austere economic policies.

Tokyo also stepped in with financial assistance to crisis-hit countries, including the $30 billion "Miyazawa Initiative".

Obuchi will be the first Japanese premier to visit Laos in 33 years, and the first to visit Cambodia in 43 years, on a trip that will take him to two of Asia's poorest countries.

Officials said Obuchi was likely to sign an agreement on grant aid for Laos and to announce further aid for the removal of land mines and improvement of medical facilities in Cambodia.

In the year ending April 2000 it has already pledged 7.5 billion yen (US$71.43 million) in grants to Laos. It has promised up to 4.142 billion yen in loans to Cambodia, the first ODA loans to the country in almost 30 years, and 7.9 billion yen in grants.

In Thailand -- where the Asian financial crisis first erupted -- Japan is likely to discuss aid for development of so-called "people skills", such as student exchanges, rather than economic assistance, an official said.

Despite the economic diplomacy, Tokyo hopes the future holds a broader, more political regional role.

"Japan of course wants to be more closely associated with the countries of the Asian region," spokesman Saiki said. "And if there is a common call on the part of the Asian countries that Japan play a major political role in the region, I think we will have to pay great attention."

As one step towards a potentially broader presence, Japan has tightened ties with South Korea, including unprecedented cooperation on defense policy.

Some, however, doubt whether Japan is ready for a wider political leadership role.

"Economic leadership is something Japan can definitely provide and they are building the connections to do so," said political commentator Tsutomu Ono.

"Otherwise, they are just trying to garner support to bolster their own position in the international community," he added. "They are not ready for political leadership yet."