Quietly, but nevertheless significantly, Japan's oil diplomacy is entering one of its most crucial stages ever. Success or failure could determine the future of the nation's energy security -- and even that of its economy as a whole.
A flood of important deadlines are inked in on the Japanese oil-diplomacy calendar for the remainder of the year, beginning with a planned visit to Tokyo early next month by Kuwaiti Oil Minister Adel Khaled Subeih.
When Takeo Hiranuma, minister of economy, trade and industry, visited Kuwait in early July, he and Subeih reached a basic agreement on extending the operations of Japan's Arabian Oil Co. in the Kuwaiti-controlled portion of the Khafji oil field beyond the current contract deadline of January 2003.