Japan seeks active role in peace-building in Asia, Africa
TOKYO —
Japan will play an active role in promoting peace-building efforts and supporting personnel-training programs in Asia and Africa, in hopes of catching up in contributions to international peace cooperation, Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said Monday. Speaking at a symposium at the U.N. University in Tokyo, Komura vowed to continue a pilot program, launched last year, to train civilian peace-builders in Asia, as well as to dispatch more civilian experts from Japan to take part in global peace operations.
‘‘As the world’s second largest economy, Japan contributes 16.6% of the total budget for (U.N.) peacekeeping operations,’’ Komura said. ‘‘Yet, in terms of the deployment of troops and police forces, we have only sent 36 people, or 0.04%, according to U.N. statistics. We are ranked 83 out of 119 countries.’’ Noting the growing importance of U.N. peace operations around the world, the minister stressed that Japan ‘‘must take part more actively in U.N. peacekeeping operations permissible under the current system.’’
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rjd_jr
She can't be right, only 36 people that were sent to Iraq and Afghanistan, amongst others, the past few years? I think she is wrong on those figures. Regardless it's one of those darned if you do and darned if you don't. Some will criticize Japan for not doing enough, and yet more will nitpick about how Japan's commmittment to send more troops and others for peace building amounts to a rise in militaristic ambitions reminiscent of World War 2.
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