HONOLULU -- While the way Americans look at the world may have fundamentally changed since Sept. 11, the basic Asian issues confronting U.S. decision-makers remain largely unchanged. A look at regional concerns shows more similarities than differences to those that existed before Sept. 11.
* Japan. Japan has become much more involved in international security affairs over the past six months, in East Timor as well as in the Indian Ocean. But Japan's desire to become a more "normal" nation precedes Sept. 11; Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had pledged last spring that Japan would become a more equal partner to the U.S., while decrying the unrealistic nature of many of Japan's self-imposed constraints. If nothing else, however, Sept. 11 provided Koizumi with the incentive and political cover to move ahead more rapidly than planned.
But the largest issue between Tokyo and Washington -- Japan's inability to make the fundamental reforms necessary to revive its increasingly sick economy -- remains essentially unchanged. While U.S. President George W. Bush signaled early on that he would not resort to the two failed tactics of the Clinton administration -- Japan bashing and Japan passing -- his administration has been equally unsuccessful in convincing Japan to get its economic house in order. In addition, many contentious Okinawa base issues remain unresolved.