HONOLULU -- Japan has put itself at the forefront of international relief efforts in the wake of the devastating Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami. Tokyo is acting both out of concern for the victims and to forward its own political-diplomatic strategy. Japan's reaction has demonstrated the role that Tokyo desires to and can play in its quest for normalcy.
The scale of the tragedy continues to mount. The death toll is nearing 200,000, and experts warn that the number of casualties could double. As many as 5 million people have been left homeless; the Asian Development Bank warns that 2 million people could be thrown into poverty as a result.
The international response has come under intense scrutiny. Although billions of dollars in aid have been promised, and much already delivered, the speed with which the world took action has been a source of controversy. Attention has also focused on the motives behind those actions. It is perhaps inevitable that governments would be accused of opportunism, even though criticism seems crass in the face of such suffering. It's unlikely that the victims care about why they are getting help and aid.