HONOLULU -- Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will have a lot to talk about with U.S. President George W. Bush when the two meet for the first time at Camp David this weekend. High on the agenda should be the initiation of a strategic dialogue aimed at redefining the U.S.-Japan security relationship.
Koizumi appears ready to expand the U.S.-Japan relationship while also supporting a greater role for Japan in regional security affairs. While stating that he is not prepared at this time to put the difficult question of constitutional revision on the political agenda, the prime minister has stated that it is desirable for Japan to be allowed to participate in collective defense activities and to help defend its allies (read: the United States) in the event of regional crisis.
In a comment that appears aimed at stimulating debate on this once-taboo subject, Koizumi noted that "we should stop branding anyone speaking about revising Article 9 as hawkish or a rightist," correctly noting that this section of the Constitution -- which stipulates that Japan shall never maintain land, sea, or air forces -- "fails to reflect reality."