All's not yet lost in the land of the waning sun

[gkanai]

Long but interesting essay on how Japan has taken it's Asian neighbors for granted but cannot afford to do so moving forward. However, if "Japan's political leadership holds the key" then Japan will be left behind because no one in the "political leadership" knows how to use that "key."

In short, Japan needs to recognise Asia's new strategic values and how they relate to Japan. Unlike the Meiji restoration and post-war reform, horizons are opening up for Japan to make use of its cooperative relationship with Asia as leverage to advance Asian reform. Japan must link its domestic structural reform with opening up towards Asia.

Japan's political leadership holds the key. The Japan-Asean special summit next month is the first opportunity for Asean leaders to meet leaders of other major powers outside the region. This should be the ideal opportunity for Japan to display its Asian diplomacy.

Straits Times - All's not yet lost in the land of the waning sun
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/commentary/story/0,4386,217996,00.html