Japan Showcases Foreign Diplomacy at the United Nations

At the 78th United Nation General Assembly in New York, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio set about advancing his administration’s priority of elevating Japan’s role on the world stage as he battles sliding approval ratings at home. He urged greater international cooperation to reform the Security Council, which has been labeled as dysfunctional in its response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The visit marked the second time Kishida has attended the General Assembly since taking office in 2021. But this time, he did so as the leader of a country on the U.N. Security Council, since Japan began a two-year term as a non-permanent member on January 1.

Once again, the situation in Ukraine was the main topic of this year’s discussions at the General Assembly. Kishida slammed Russia for violating the rule of law, the U.N. Charter, and human rights. 

Amid the war in Ukraine, there has been growing debate over whether the veto powers given to permanent members of the Security Council are doing more harm than good. Russia has repeatedly vetoed U.N. resolutions condemning its invasion of Ukraine. The U.N. Charter stipulates that in order for a resolution to pass in the Security Council it must have the support of at least nine members and no opposing votes from the five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. 

This veto power is what prevents the U.N. from taking action in the ongoing conflict and Russia from being expelled from the Security Council. It has also prevented U.N. action on a variety of other topics where the permanent members disagree – often with the U.S. on one side and China and Russia on the other. Proposed resolutions penalizing Myanmar’s military regime or tightening sanctions on North Korea have been dead on arrival.

Speaking before the General Assembly, Kishida stressed that “efforts to curb the use of the veto power, which aggravates division and conflict in the U.N., will strengthen the Security Council and restore confidence.” He said “the exercise of veto power should be restrained to the maximum extent possible.”

Kishida was building on U.S. President Joe Biden’s proposal for curtailing the use of veto powers at last year’s U.N. General Assembly. 

The Japanese prime minister also made renewed calls for international debate over concrete proposals for institutional reform from a perspective of “human dignity.” He suggested expanding permanent and non-permanent membership in the Security Council, something Japan has long sought as part of its own push to wield more power at the U.N. Kishida said he would lead dialogue on concrete proposals with Germany, India, and African countries in favor of reform. 

In the lead up to his three-day trip to New York, Kishida told reporters that he will convey to the international community “Japan’s unique approach to human security and human-centered international cooperation.” At the General Assembly, Kishida urged leaders to go back to the foundations of human dignity in order to realize a world filled with cooperation at a time of multiple crises. He was also recognized for his efforts to end world poverty in this year's Global Goalkeeper Award.  

But back home, the last few months have been rocky for the Kishida administration, with fierce  public backlash over the release of wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the rising cost of living, and a political scandal involving Kishida’s executive secretary, his son. 

Kishida’s address at the U.N General Assembling came shortly after a last minute cabinet reshuffle made in hopes of shoring up flagging approval numbers. Kishida introduced 11 new ministers, including a record five female cabinet ministers in the 19 member lineup. Japan’s main opposition, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, speculated that the latest cabinet revamp increases the likelihood of a snap election, which is part of Kishida’s political strategy for re-election. 

Kishida’s push to involve Japan in global affairs builds on former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s pursuit of Japan’s interests on the world stage. Last year, shortly after Abe’s assassination, Kishida pledged to continue the diplomatic work of his predecessor by prioritizing a top-down approach to foreign diplomacy centered around his leadership. 

Although he has been prime minister for just two years, Kishida is already a familiar figure on the world stage: he served as minister for foreign affairs under Abe between 2012 to 2016. In fact, he holds the record as Japan’s longest serving foreign minister, with four years and eight months in the post. As Kishida works to make his mark on politics, his legacy may mirror Abe’s by becoming the new face of Japan on the global stage. But whether that translates to political longevity at home remains to be seen.