The Foreign Ministry, its public image badly tarnished by a string of corruption scandals and policy blunders, is set to work out an action plan to clean up its act. The plan will be based more or less on the recommendations submitted on Monday to Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi by her advisory panel.
The question is whether the ministry will be able to make the bold changes needed for its revival. The answer is uncertain, for now at least. To be sure, the panel's final report contains important suggestions, such as establishing rules of transparency in relations between ministry bureaucrats and Diet members, but it does not go far enough in restoring public confidence in the foreign service. As yet there is no road map for diplomatic rebirth.
Nevertheless, the report is a good start. The test for the Foreign Ministry is to follow it up as best it can and as promptly as possible. Speedy reform is essential because of the increasing role of international diplomacy. With the public expecting the ministry to play a more active role in the conduct of foreign policy, now is probably the best time to push through hard-hitting reforms.