JAPAN: Crucial Role in United Nations’ Future

By Suvendrini Kakuchi Reprint | | Print |

Suvendrini Kakuchi

TOKYO, Sep 28 1995 (IPS) - Japan had just been defeated in World War II when the United Nations was founded 50 years ago, now it plays a crucial role in the future of the world body.

Tokyo contributes 13 percent of the U.N. budget, making it the second largest contributor after the United States whose share comprises one third of the organisation’s funds.

“If Japan joins the United States in cutting U.N. expenses, the survival of a lot of U.N. agencies will be in danger,” warns Prof Takeshi Inoguchi, vice chairman of the United Nations University in Tokyo.

Observers say Japan shares the United States’ view that the United Nations needs to cut down on spending, particularly by doing away with wasteful projects.

“With the economic recession here, more and more people are questioning whether Japan should continue to give huge contributions to the United Nations because of the waste that goes on,” says Minoru Tada, a political expert.

But a major factor in Japan’s decision is its bid to gain a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, a prestigious position occupied only by Britain, the United States, Russia, France and China.

For Japan, which was defeated by Western Allied forces in 1945, a permanent seat is crucial to redeeming its position in the international world. Tokyo had hoped to gain a seat this year, but reaching that goal is taking longer than expected.

In preparation Japan has made drastic changes in its policies, such as abandoning its aversion to sending its soldiers abroad.

The dispatch of Japan’s Self-Defence Forces to join the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Cambodia in 1992 and later in Somalia marked a dramatic turn in the country’s international role, which had earlier been restricted to financial contributions.

Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama even announced, during his recent trip to the Middle East, Japan’s plans to send its forces to participate in U.N. operations in the Golan Heights.

Despite Japan’s growing impatience over the Security Council seat, the debate on the issue has made the government realise it may be better to wait a little longer before pursuing its dream.

“Japanese politicians and bureaucrats now realise the timing is bad. More people are saying Japan should not push the issue, it will get the position anyway because of its financial contributions and the wide support it has from many nations,” said Inoguchi.

Analysts in Tokyo say Japan leans toward policies that support peace-enforcing operations rather than peacekeeping which require a greater commitment from members to carry out military tasks.

As a strongly pacifist nation, they say Japan is reluctant to pursue activities that raise questions on such issues as infringement of states.

Tokyo is also open to the idea of inviting more developing countries to become permanent members of the Security Council.

“Why not?” asked a foreign ministry official when asked about the issue recently. “But remember that the larger a country’s contribution, the more important its role is in decision making in the United Nations.”

U.N. observers say Tokyo is not supportive of the long drawn- out debate at the United Nations raised by developing countries on issues such as social policies.

While U.N. reformists consider such debates tedious and a waste of time, Tokyo is also disappointed over the United States’ negligence of those matters, said Inoguchi.

Analysts say Japan’s main interest in United Nations lies in enforcing equal social and economic development in the world. Japan is the world’s top aid donor. It has proposed its own development strategy to the United Nations which calls for less advanced countries to cut military spending and set numerical targets to promote effective development.

Japan made these suggestions earlier this year in response to a request in May 1994 by U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros- Ghali.

Next month, a special U.N. task force will discuss the proposal, which also recommends a comprehensive approach to raising money for aid to developing countries in which private trade and investment would be generated.

“Japan’s opinions are growing louder in this area because the country, which is the world’s second richest, feels confident to share its experience with developing countries,” said Tada.

Japan has also proposed establishing a powerful executive body of some 15 U.N. members within the U.N. Economic and Social Council to enhance the council’s functions.