Soviet, U.S. Influence Wanes : Japan Flexes Muscle as U.N.’s No. 2 Bankroller

While U.S. and Soviet influence wanes, Japan has become the No. 2 bankroller of the United Nations and is working to convert its economic muscle into political clout.

It is moving cautiously, conscious of World War II sensibilities. Although admitted to the world body in 1956, Japan is still indirectly referred to in the U.N. Charter as an enemy nation.

But in 1986, Japan passed the Soviet Union to become the second-largest U.N. contributor, assessed 10.84% of the U.N. budget. The Soviets juggled figures in an effort to remain second behind the United States. They added to their own assessment those of the Ukraine and Byelorussia, Soviet republics that have U.N. membership, for a total contribution of 11.84%.

But the Soviet Union’s assessment, which has been listed separately from the other two for 40 years, comes out to about 10.5%.

Cars and Computer Chips

Assessments are based on national production. Japan’s rise has been fueled by its efficient manufacture of cars and computer chips. The United States is assessed 25% of the budget. But because of Congress-mandated cuts, it will contribute less than 20% this year, possibly nearer 15%.

Diplomats from developing countries here say that Japan is trying to use its new economic power to gain influence in the Third World and finds the United Nations a useful place to wield this influence.

Japan disclaims any ambition to compete with the United States for political leadership of the Western bloc. And there is doubt, including among many Japanese, that Japan is ready to be a political superpower.

According to Barry Sen, an Indian who is secretary general of the Asian African Legal Consultative Committee, U.S. influence among developing countries has dipped dramatically.

Reasons for Decline

He attributed this to the United States’ refusal to join in global North-South negotiations for a “new world economic order,” its refusal to sign the Law of the Sea Treaty after it dictated most of its terms, its support of Israel, its refusal to apply broad sanctions against South Africa and its cuts in support to the United Nations.

“If the United States does not restore its influence, the Japanese will walk in the back door,” he said.

Ambassador Tomohiko Kobayashi, Japan’s deputy U.N. envoy, said that his country sees its role in the the United Nations as an opportunity to boost its world standing.

“It’s a place where we can make our own advertisement,” he said, referring to Japanese links here with small-country representatives.

Soviet Influence Dips

He added that there has been a decline of Soviet influence among developing countries moving away from the leftist ideological positions that governed their economies.

“It is a good time for a constructive dialogue with the developing nations who realize ideologies are just words,” Kobayashi said. “I think we have exercised a certain influence in their behavior.

“We believe we have come through the same process of development. We believe we have a better concept of their problems than the United States. They (developing countries) have less distrust for us than the former colonial powers and the superpowers. We believe we can really play a dominant role.”

Recent Japanese initiatives illustrate the new more aggressive policy.

Push for Committee

While U.S. funding cuts and right-wing criticism of the United Nations brought only resentment, Japan’s foreign minister, Shintoro Abe, successfully pushed for a committee of intergovernmental experts to try to make the United Nations more efficient and effective.

Japan has taken its first steps in conflict resolution, quietly attempting to supplement U.N. efforts to end the Iran-Iraq war and Vietnam’s occupation of Cambodia.

Japan’s official foreign aid doubled between 1982 and 1985 and is programmed to double again by 1992. It now stands at $4.5 billion annually, half the total of U.S. aid, which is not growing.

Some Western diplomats and U.N. officials don’t see any great potential for Japanese leadership at the United Nations. They say, for example, that China has greater influence in the Third World because it is part of it, and that Europeans have greater influence among their former colonies in Africa.

Seen as a Power

At the same time, Japan is generally perceived by Third World nations as one of the big Western economic powers.

Japan, however, finds it unfair that China has veto power as a permanent member of the Security Council.

“We feel we are really handicapped,” Kobayashi said, noting that Japan pays 14 times more to the U.N. budget than does China.

But he said Japan will keep trying to exercise its influence through available means, including greater contributions to the U.N. He said Japan will also try to place more Japanese in high positions in the U.N. leadership.

Only one of 26 undersecretary generals at headquarters--Yasushi Akashi, director of public information--is Japanese. And at middle levels, U.N. officials concede, Japan is seriously underrepresented in proportion to its contribution.