What roles and missions should Japan perform as it seeks to contribute more to its own defense, strengthen the U.S.-Japanese alliance, and improve the international security environment? First and foremost is the development of a ballistic missile defense (BMD) system.

China’s diplomatic relations with Japan are an important part of its diplomacy in the Asian arena and on the world stage. Because of their special geopolitical relationship, the cooperative or antagonistic nature of Sino-Japanese relations will directly affect China’s peaceful rise. Japan’s economic and geopolitical influence, as well as its role in shaping China’s image, was the reason Beijing adopted its current policy of “develop[ing] a long-term stable and harmonious relationship with Japan.”

The political developments in Japan for the last five years cannot be looked at in a vacuum. In my view, Japan is still in the middle of a journey to find its rightful place in the international community. This journey, which began in earnest with Japan’s humiliating experience during the 1990-91 Gulf War, still continues today.

Most Japanese assessments of its postwar strategy have been a little different. Japan is often depicted as “groping” (mosaku) for strategy.6 For some, postwar strategy has been incoherent for the same reason prewar strategy was: Japan is chasing too many hares at once. By trying to pursue a policy that is simultaneously UN-centered, Asia-oriented, autonomous, and consistent with the goals of the bilateral alliance with the United States, Japan’s foreign policy ends up confused and ineffective.

“Thank you, American people … for ‘Love Me Tender.’” Thus spoke an ecstatic Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi on June 29, 2006, after meeting with President George W. Bush and before heading off to a lavish White House dinner and an unprecedented presidential tour of Graceland, the home of Koizumi’s beloved Elvis Presley. By any account, Koizumi steps down in September 2006 having built the strongest personal ties ever seen between Japanese and U.S. leaders, as well as the tightest security cooperation of the Washington-Tokyo alliance’s five-decade history.

TOKYO, July 20 -- The United States and Japan will begin deploying American-made anti-missile systems on Japanese soil next month amid growing concern about North Korean arms, officials announced Thursday.

The return of Japan Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is preparing to leave office with a bang. Capping five and a half years of assertive Japanese leadership - hitherto an oxymoron - Koizumi's cabinet is proposing legislation that would create a real defense ministry, and thereby bid farewell to the existing Japan Defense Agency.

With Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi set to retire in September, the battle in the governing Liberal Democratic Party over who will succeed him as party leader and prime minister is well under way. So far, the race is turning into a referendum on what to do about Japan's troubled relations with its Asian neighbors, especially China.

The Chinese foreign ministry spokesman says China is intent on isolating Japan until its neighbor shows sincerity and wisdom in handling their mutual history. Democratic evolution and historical justice are generally laudable goals. Still, given the cold diplomatic relations between Japan and China at the moment, there is certain competition for moral superiority couched in terms of democracy versus historical justice.

Japan’s support for counterterrorism in Southeast Asia (SEA) partly reflects its commitment to the U.S.-Japan alliance, but is also part of a wider strategy for enhancing its political and security role in the region.

The Japan of today is significantly different from the Japan of only a decade ago. Transformative changes are sweeping across its economy, political system and international policy.

A free Japan is helping to transform the world. Japan and the United States send more aid overseas than any other two countries in the world. Today in Afghanistan, Japanese aid is building a highway that President Karzai says is essential for the economic recovery of this newly democratic nation. In Iraq, Japan has pledged nearly $5 billion for reconstruction.

Security Consultative Committee Document. The SCC members reaffirmed their shared view of the security environment, in which new and emerging threats have surfaced as common challenges that can affect thesecurity of nations worldwide, including the U.S. and Japan.

In order to ensure peace and security, Japan has endeavored to establish a more stable security environment in the world through diplomatic efforts, and to build a sound basis for security by promoting stability in people’s lives.

In order to ensure the peace and safety of Japan and peace and stability of the international community, the Security Council and Cabinet of the Government of Japan approved this documento. The Guidelines builds on the December 19, 2003 Security Council and Cabinet decision, “On Introduction of Ballistic Missile Defense System and Other Measures.”