Japan Seeks Greater Presence in United Nations

A Japanese official has called for more Japanese nationals to work within the United Nations, citing a 'desirable quota' of over 200 employees, despite currently having only 89 working for the U.N. Secretariat. The Japanese government has demanded a permanent position in an enlarged United Nations Security Council, which would feature more than 20 members, and has also complained about the slow pace of accepting Japanese personnel.

Key Takeaways:

• Japan has complained to the United Nations General Assembly that U.N. bureaucrats have been slow in accepting Japanese to work for the organization, with a 'desirable quota' of over 200 employees.
• The Japanese mission to the United Nations wants to increase the presence of Japanese in the U.N. system, considering a larger Japanese presence would convince the Japanese people at home to give more to the upkeep of peacekeeping operations and humanitarian relief efforts.
• Japan currently has 89 Japanese working for the U.N. Secretariat, while the U.S. has a higher proportion of employees despite contributing less to the U.N. budget.
• China, a Security Council permanent member, pays only 0.77 percent to the U.N. budget and has several hundreds working in the U.N. secretariat despite not matching Japan's financial contribution.
• Japan is the second-largest contributor to the United Nations, paying close to 13 percent to the U.N. budget and 15 percent in three years' time.
• Japan's financial contribution to the U.N. would entitle it to a larger share of employees, with international U.N. employees receiving high salaries that derive from contributions from the 184 U.N. members.

Statistics:

• 89: The current number of Japanese working for the U.N. Secretariat.
• 200+: The 'desirable quota' of Japanese employees in the U.N. Secretariat.
• 13% : Japan's current contribution to the U.N. budget.
• 25%: The United States' contribution to the U.N. budget.
• 30%: The United States' contribution to the costs of peacekeeping operations.
• 15%: Japan's expected contribution to the U.N. budget in three years' time.
• 0.77%: China's contribution to the U.N. budget.

Sources:

• United Nations, December 5.