For Japan to secure important posts at the United Nations and other international organizations, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party plans to urge the government to take strategic actions.
On Thursday, an LDP league of lawmakers for rule-making strategies headed by lower house member Akira Amari, the chairperson of LDP Research Commission on the Tax System and a former economic revitalization minister, is holding a meeting to begin making proposals centered on fielding former ministers in elections for the head of international organizations.
In addition, the league plans to propose strengthening human resources development at international organizations and promoting cooperation with the Group of Seven.
The league will also consider an option that the government will integrally manage Japanese personnnel dispatched to international organizations, including senior officials other than top executives.
At present, there are no Japanese at the top of any of the 15 specialized agencies of the U.N., while China is at the top of four such agencies, including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Because of this, the LDP is feeling a sense of crisis as China is being allowed to gain prominence, exercising its influence on the international community.
Regarding the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, there has been criticism that the World Health Organization favors China. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus comes from Ethiopia, which has a close relationship with China, leading to the indelible viewpoint.
"It's important to form international organizations that share values such as neutrality and fairness," said Norihiro Nakayama, a parliamentary vice foreign minister and secretary general of the above LDP league.
In response to the LDP's move, the government is urging the United States, which is chairing the upcoming G7 summit, to take up the election for posts at international organizations as a major agenda item. Cooperation among G7 members may also be a focal point in the selection of the World Trade Organization's next leader after its current director-general steps down on Aug. 31.
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