sun, 29th may, 10:29am

in a car ride home, my superior recently asked me about how i felt about prime minister koizumi's statement about his visit to the Yasukuni Shrine. here's how i feel:

1. show of power: the fact that japan is currently seeking support to gain a permanent seat on the UN security council, yet still show that they can afford to alienate chinese support, says a lot about its (perceived) foreign policy superiority.

2. antithetical position to china: china is a rising super power. the us views china as a 'a strategic competitior'. japan is a strategic ally of the states. it is probably the only country in asia now capable of maintaining an antithetical position to china. the UN is largely controlled by the US. thus, japan's standing up to china may actually aid it's cause for securing (pardon the pun) a position on the security council.

3. strong leader: mr koizumi cannot afford to risk his political career and go down in infamy as the japanese leader that abandoned 'japanese imperialism' and bow to external demands.

more comments on the matter, pls.