The Wire

This weekend US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Alexander Downer will have historic and important discussions over issues in the Asian region, such as Korea and Iran’s nuclear intentions. British journalist Christopher Reed is concerned that Australians aren’t aware that Taro Aso has connections to the companies which exploited Korean and Chinese workers in the past. He says the era is a dark part of the country’s past and one which other Asian countries can’t forgive, and one which could have diplomatic repercussions for Australia if it aligns itself with Japan.