The United States is going to great lengths to tout Japan as its key partner in addressing the financial crisis and other global issues, not only sending Hillary Rodham Clinton to Tokyo on her overseas debut as secretary of state but also inviting Prime Minister Taro Aso as President Barack Obama's first foreign guest at the White House.
But whether Aso's fragile administration, which was dealt another blow Tuesday with the sudden resignation of Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa, can meet Washington's expectations is another matter, as his support ratings continue to plummet and the nation falls into economic crisis.
"Of course there are matters that we are concerned about on a bilateral basis," Clinton told a news conference after meeting Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone. "But equally, we are concerned about what we can do together to address the challenges and seize the opportunities of this time."