Calm does not seem to prevail in the words and deeds attributed to Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka. She caused a considerable controversy when she expressed the view that Japan should join hands with European countries to persuade the United States not to go ahead with the missile-defense initiative.

This problem was apparently settled when she went to Washington June 18 and met with U.S. President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. She told them Japan understood the U.S. position on the missile defense but had reservations about its implementation. In other words, Japan's position is one of "understanding" but not one of "support." The American leaders called the case closed as they confirmed that there had been no change in Japan's fundamental position.

Within the Liberal Democratic Party, however, there is skepticism as to whether Tanaka truly meant what she said. I share that suspicion, too. To me, she appears to be exactly like her father, former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, who was pro-China and did not like, even if only emotionally, the United States. Otherwise, I cannot imagine how she could have allied herself with her counterparts from abroad in trying to stop the missile-defense system.