Japan not ready for U.N. Security Council seat (Asahi Op-Ed; pro-U.N. "GERO" alert!)

Asahi on line ^ | 5-27-05 | Takashi Tsujii (poet/writer)

[DTogo]

Many business leaders and people in diplomatic circles seem to share the view that Japan adequately meets the requirements to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Their opinion is based on Japan's great financial contributions to the U.N. budget and to developing nations in the form of official development assistance.

But I disagree.

The United Nations is an international organization for peace. The greatest problem of the Security Council, which forms its core, is how to deal with U.S. unilaterism. The U.S. government ignored the United Nations and launched a pre-emptive attack on Iraq. The problem is how to check such arbitrary action.

At the time, the Japanese government supported U.S. military action by toeing the U.S. line, whereas Germany, which is also seeking a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, acted more cautiously.

Its attitude was in striking contrast with Japan's. Given that the United Nations stands by the principle of international pacifism, I don't think Japan as it is today is qualified to become a permanent member of the Security Council.

[DTogo]

A good summary/insight into the post-WWII pro-peace stupor many Japanese have maintained while under the protection of the US security umbrella. Iraq? North Korea? China? They can all be solved peacibly through the UNSC.

Aho! (Dumb!)

[DTogo]

FYI

Japan * ping * (kono risuto ni hairitai ka detai wo shirasete kudasai : let me know if you want on or off this list)

[ckilmer]

the other thing is that Schroeder is going to be out of office in the fall.

History is far more likely to judge the Japanese as being right on this occasion to have sided against the eurasian continental countries...

[Sam the Sham]

Is this "international pacifism" bilge characteristic of real Japanese thinking ?

[DTogo]

Is this "international pacifism" bilge characteristic of real Japanese thinking ?

It's very characteristic of "man-on-the-street" thinking, in essence wishing problems away instead of facing them and making tough decisions (always hard to do anyway in culturally concensus-prone Japan). Same with US foreign policy, which Japan knows is often right, but is still hard to swallow (and publicly agree to, making them look like a lap-dog) when many are under the "Article 9" stupor.

[Wiz]

Is this "international pacifism" bilge characteristic of real Japanese thinking ?

I think it would be rather a leftist concept.