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Japan's diplomacy motivated by self-interest cannot earn the trust of the world
Akahata editorial (excerpts)

When Foreign Minister Machimura Nobutaka spoke at the United Nations General Assembly on September 17, he said, "Japan will make the utmost efforts to ensure that the status and responsibilities of a U.N. member state are duly taken into account in its scale of assessment." This can be taken to mean that a member state's status in the U.N. should be in accord with the amount of its monetary contribution, and that it is natural for Japan to be a permanent Security Council member because its share of contributions is about 20 percent.

At a news conference at the U.N. headquarters in July, Machimura said that calls for a cut in Japan's contributions will increase if Japan fails to win a permanent UNSC seat.

Threatening to reduce its contribution in a bid to secure a permanent UNSC seat will be regarded as "a detestable rich country's attitude," and will only help increase international criticism and distrust toward Japan.

Despite its attempt to attract support from as many countries as possible in return for economic assistance, Japan cannot gain enough support because of its reluctance to show remorse for its war of aggression, which has led to Japan's isolation in Asia.

For example, Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro visits Yasukuni Shrine which justifies Japan's past war of aggression, and the government approved a history textbook that glosses over Japan's war of aggression. It is natural that little support for a permanent UNSC seat for Japan would come from Asian countries, which had been devastated by Japan's war of aggression.

Justifying the war of aggression conflicts with the foundation of the United Nations established on the basis of a deep reflection on the wars of Japan, Germany, and Italy.

No country can become a permanent UNSC member by luring many countries into supporting it using economic assistance as bait or by threatening to cut financial contributions to the U.N. Japan can only become a permanent UNSC member when many countries endorse its candidacy. Japan is required to drastically change its present diplomatic attitude and sincerely make efforts to gain the trust of other countries in Asia and the rest of the world.

Japan's Constitution stipulates that international disputes must be settled by peaceful means. It is a principle established in the U.N. Charter. When joining the U.N. in 1956, Japan with its Constitution promised to make peaceful contributions and refuse to offer military cooperation.

Japan should embrace the Constitution in its foreign policy and play an active part in establishing a peaceful order based on the U.N. Charter. -- Akahata, September 28, 2005