Over at Japundit, Ampontan discusses why Japan should forget to mail its check to the UN until either a “realistic payment balance was achieved” or Japan got a Security Council seat.
And of more relevance to us on the other side of the East Sea, he notes–citing the Dong-A Ilbo–that Japan might not support Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon’s bid to become UN general-secretary. Adds Ampontan:
I was going to write that it was surprising for South Korea to be so presumptuous as to ask for Japanese support for its own UN bid so soon after voting to scuttle Japan’s, but then I remembered that presumption is a hallmark of South Korean diplomacy.
The Dong-A, however, went on to say that some Japanese Foreign Ministry officials reportedly felt that unlike China, Korea didn’t ask other countries to oppose Japan’s Security Council bid (I guess South Korea being a charter member of the “Coffee Club” and UN ambassador Kim Sam-hoon saying, “We do not think Japan has the qualifications to become a U.N. Security Council member, and we will try to make sure it does not,” don’t count) and that Tokyo should support Ban’s candidacy in order to get Korea’s support next time Japan tries to get a seat with the big boys.
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Hrm. But in a really strange move, FM Taro Aso appears to have said a few things diplomatic and useful (at Japan’s National Press Club). Stuff like:
“In principle, Yasukuni Shrine is a place to honor the war dead. The problem is that some people who did not die at war are also enshrined there.”
and:
“We should consider a system that allows all of us to pray for the spirits of the war dead … without being criticized from outside and inside the country.”
If even Aso can make a few tentative steps toward civility, maybe there is still a chance for Ban to get some support from Japan (and for Korea to loosen their panty-bind over Japan).
(Although, given that corruption has become such a major issue at the UN, do we really want Ban to be the next secretary general? Maybe someone from Singapore would be a better choice? No. 5 on the Transparency International Corruption Perception index)
Another gum-smack producing example of Korean diplomatic maladroitness. With diplomatic skills like this, does anyone really want a Korean at the head of the UN? On second thought - it seems like just the ticket to oblivion that East River albatross needs.
After pissing all over Japan for the last two years (not to mention ambushing the Japanese ambassador by criticising Japan in front of dozens of cameras), why would Japan support this guy unless Japan wanted even less influence in the UN than it does?
I don’t even think Ban has chance to become UN head regardless of support from Japan. And if I were Japanese hell I wouldn’t support this guy either……
But we have no choice but to oppose Japan joining member of security council.