The new Japanese Foreign Minister seems to know the difference betwen the US and China.

From Mainichi Daily News:

Japan must concentrate on its ties with Washington before those with Asia, newly appointed Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Wednesday, adding that the U.S. military presence in the country was crucial for the entire region.

"Japan should first continue to build strong relations with America, and based on this, deepen relations with other Asian nations," Aso said on national network NHK.

"The presence of U.S. troops is vital to Japan," Aso said. "Stable relations between Japan and America is important for the rest of Asia."

His remarks came after a breakthrough agreement between the two countries on realigning U.S. bases in Japan, with Washington agreeing to pull about 7,000 U.S. troops out of the country and Tokyo promising to more closely integrate its own Self-Defense Forces with the U.S. military command.

Japan on Wednesday also started procedures to partially lift its two-year ban on U.S. beef imports -- imposed due to fears of mad cow disease -- defusing a potential trade battle between the two allies.

Aso denied that Japan was diplomatically isolated in Asia, playing down a a recent flap between Tokyo and its Asian neighbors, especially Beijing and Seoul, over Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to a war shrine that has convicted war criminals among those it honors.