Japan running out of UN money

[Taro Toporific]

Japan seeks to cut contribution to United NationsSan Francisco Chronicle, CA - Jan 21
Japan, the world's second-biggest financier of the United Nations, wants to cut
its contributions to the world body, a Japanese UN official said Thursday. ...Contributions to the United Nations are loosely based on each country's economic power. Reassessing Japan's dues would be a complex task...

[cstaylor]

It's not that complex: "here's less money".

Or: "Why are two population-deprived European nations represented as permanent members on the UNSC, but only one Asian nation? (Unless you count Russia as Asian)"

Or: "Why should we pay you to feed the North Korean people, when their government relies on that aid so they can bolster their military effectiveness?"

Seems pretty clear to me. Japan should pay no more than any member of the UNSC.

[Steve Bildermann]

Japan should pay no more than any member of the UNSC.

I'm not sure I follow you there. Japan is *not* a permanent member of the UNSC (although it dearly wants to be) so it can't be compared to say China or the UK in that respect.

It is of course a member of the UNGA and like everyone else is assesed dues based on it's GNP (minus of course all it's unpaid New York parking fees)

[cstaylor]

Japan should pay no more than any member of the UNSC.

I'm not sure I follow you there. Japan is *not* a permanent member of the UNSC (although it dearly wants to be) so it can't be compared to say China or the UK in that respect.

That's my point: if the UNSC makes decisions that run contrary to Japan's self-interests (such as not pursuing North Korea's nuclear ambitions because of China's threatened veto), why should it be the second-largest financial contributor to the U.N.?

The only permanent member of the UNSC paying a larger contribution than Japan is the United States.

It's not a "do as I say, or I don't pay", but I think Japan has every right to question where all those years of hefty contributions have gotten them, and adjust their contribution accordingly. Maybe they can shift their contributions over to Japanese ODA, so they get more for their money.