Southeast Asian countries are wary as Prime Minister Koizumi finishes a regional tour aimed at shoring up the country's overseas investment
The motorcade zoomed up to the swanky Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Its passengers were greeted with smiles, bows and a receiving line of young women in traditional Thai gowns. Curious hotel guests stretched their necks for a glimpse of what all the fanfare was about. Imagine everyone's disappointment when the fuss turned out to be over some visiting Japanese government bureaucrats, whom no one recognised. The officials visiting Bangkok last November were from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation to pledge loans to finance an airport construction project. The importance of their vi...
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