Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka heads for Washington today with the U.S. missile defense plan and issues related to the U.S. military presence in Okinawa topping the agenda for talks to be held on Monday.
Tanaka's first face-to-face talks with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell were initially seen as difficult to arrange because of tight schedules on both sides. The meeting also faced opposition from within the Diet over Tanaka's reported negative remarks regarding the missile defense plan.
The Cabinet, however, finally gave approval for her visit on Friday morning.