After hemming and hawing, Washington has agreed to a visit to Washington by Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka, who has stirred controversy here and abroad over her off-the-record comments that reportedly raised doubts about the U.S. missile defense plan, the Japan-U.S. security alliance and other issues. She is to meet U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Monday prior to the June 30 summit between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and U.S. President George W. Bush.

A U.S. visit by Mrs. Tanaka is essential to dispel any misgivings the Bush administration may have about her "missile talk" and other remarks that have created the impression that she favors China over America. Mrs. Tanaka also has been quoted as saying that Japan should reject any future visa applications from former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui. Reinforcing her pro-China image is the fact that she is the daughter of former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, who opened diplomatic relations with Beijing in 1972.

The chief objective of her U.S. trip must be to reaffirm the Japan-U.S. alliance and build a relationship of personal trust with Mr. Powell by explaining clearly what the Koizumi administration thinks of the bilateral relationship, the linchpin of Japan's foreign policy. On that basis she should talk with Mr. Powell frankly about both immediate and long-term issues of common concern. By so doing she can lay the groundwork for a successful Japan-U.S. summit.