Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had an eye firmly on a nationalist agenda, rather than strained relations with his country's neighbours, when he announced a new cabinet on Monday. His decision may be good for the future of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, but is a poor gesture to a region badly in need of security and stability.
By naming conservatives who share his populist views to key posts, Mr Koizumi was clearly mindful of the legacy he wants to leave when he steps down next September - long-promised reforms that will do as much to strengthen his nation's economy as the electoral backing of the ruling party.
His thoughts were not on relations with China and South Korea, at near-lows because of his lack of sensitivity to issues stemming from their occupation by Japanese troops during the first half of last century. Since taking office in 2001, he has exacerbated the wounds of that aggression with annual visits to remember the dead at the Yasukuni Shrine, where war criminals are buried. Repeated calls by Asian nations for a wholehearted apology for second world war atrocities have been ignored, while passions have been further inflamed by new Japanese school textbooks playing down the country's record.
Mr Koizumi's cabinet appointments do not reveal a willingness to make amends; his new foreign minister, Taro Aso, was the only cabinet member to visit Yasukuni in April, while his new chief cabinet secretary, Shinzo Abe, has staunchly defended the trips. Both men have been tipped as possible successors to the prime minister.
With Japan's economy making a good recovery after a decade in the doldrums, Mr Koizumi retained his financial team, proponents of a plan to shake up the postal service and other key economic reforms. The ruling party's landslide win in elections in September gave Mr Koizumi the confidence to make such choices. With the party holding power without a coalition partner for the first time in 15 years, he has in place people who share his views to carry out his agenda.
But as much sense as such appointments make domestically, they are harmful to East Asia's stability. Apart from being supportive of visits to Yasukuni, Mr Abe, for example, also takes a hard line on North Korea - a position at odds with China and South Korea. With negotiations over the North's nuclear weapons programme delicately poised, such a view could be further destabilising were Mr Abe to succeed Mr Koizumi.
