Thursday, Nov 13, 2003
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By P. S. Suryanarayana
This acquires significance in the context of the deteriorating security situation in Iraq. With the Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yasuo Fukuda, maintaining that he could not specify when the plan might be endorsed by the Cabinet, it became clear that the latest electoral gains by the Opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) were being seen against its advocacy of caution on sending troops to Iraq in the absence of proper U.N. norms. Mr. Koizumi's circumspection marks a certain continuity in recent policy. On November 7, the Foreign Ministry had said that it was "watching carefully the development of the situation on the ground'' in Iraq. New challenges The reason, according to regional diplomatic analysts, can be traced to the perception that the "new challenges'' for the Japan-U.S. alliance in the 21st century, as addressed by experts like Nishihara Masashi and others, have covered issues of concern to Tokyo in its neighbourhood rather than the new contingencies of a Japanese role in places like West Asia. A presidential spokesman in South Korea, another U.S. ally in East Asia, took the line today that "the Government [has] resolved to thrash out a decision that our people can support''. The issue pertains to the proposal of sending about 3000 additional military personnel to Iraq, mainly for rehabilitation purposes. South Korea already has a small contingent there for rendering `logistical' help to the U.S. forces there, as distinct from combat duties. The U.S. has been pressing for mainly combat troops for `stabilisation' purposes. A few days ago, South Korea said "nothing has been determined yet'' on the issue. The South Korean President, Roh Moo-hyun, had told his U.S. counterpart, George W. Bush, last month that a decision had been taken "in principle'' to offer troops for stabilisation duties in Iraq. The Japanese Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, had left Mr. Bush guessing, during his recent visit to East Asia, on it.
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