What a difference a few planes and ships can make. Only a month ago Junichiro Koizumi, Japan's prime minister, seemed sunk in his troubles. The economy had soured, neighbourly relations with China and South Korea were in a mess and America had grown visibly impatient with Japanese foot-dragging on reform. Yet Mr Koizumi will fly to the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (apec) forum in Shanghai on October 20th looking politically stronger than he could have dreamed possible a few weeks ago. Japan is going to war and, from Mr Koizumi's perspective, everything is right with the world.
展开▼
