Statement by H.E. Ambassador YAMAZAKI Kazuyuki, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Security Council Open Debate on Leadership for Peace

Thank you, Madam President.
 
Over the past 80 years, the United Nations has played a vital role in various fields including the maintenance of international peace and security, development and human rights. Yet, as challenges confronting the UN have become more complex and the international order is in flux, reinforcing the role of the UN has become of paramount importance.
 
Now more than ever, the Secretary-General is required to demonstrate strong leadership for the UN to mobilize the efforts of the international community and take concrete actions in resolving international challenges.
 
The scope of issues related to international peace and security is expanding even more rapidly and broadly beyond traditional boundaries and becoming increasingly interconnected. Therefore, Japan cannot overemphasize the role of Secretary-General to engage and coordinate closely with the Security Council for addressing urgent matters facing the international community including the intensification of conflicts, as well as emerging threats related to maritime security, AI, and peacebuilding, in active interaction with relevant bodies. This is exactly what the spirit of the Article 99 of the UN Charter is calling for.

Madam President,

It is important to advance UN reform so that it can fully utilize its capabilities. Japan appreciates the ongoing efforts by Secretary-General Guterres, including through the UN80 initiative.

Japan also emphasizes the composition of the Security Council, which bears primary responsibility for international peace and security, has remained virtually unchanged for 80 years. As agreed in the Pact for the Future, reforming the Council to truly reflect contemporary realities is of urgent need. Japan, therefore, expects the UN Secretary-General to be fully committed to advancing Security Council reform as soon as possible.

Madam President,

As the candidate selection process draws more attention from the international community, the next Secretary-General must be selected with the utmost transparency, inclusivity and predictability.

From this perspective, Japan, having served as President of the Security Council during a critical month in the 2016 Secretary General selection process, emphasizes the importance of greater transparency in the discussions of the Council, including making the results of the discussions in the Council public, as is outlined in the UN document under A/71/774-S/2017/93.

As aforementioned, the role to be fulfilled by the next Secretary-General is greater and more critical than ever before. Japan reiterates it will continue to support the Secretary-General during these difficult times and contribute constructively toward strengthening the UN's role.

Madam President,

It is regrettable that Chinese delegation made a groundless statement against Japan in their intervention of this Chamber today.

This Open Debate is an occasion where we should discuss the role of the Secretary General under the theme of Leadership for Peace. The Chinese delegation's remarks merely seek to sow division among Member States, undermine a venue for the constructive discussions for the future of the UN, thus are inappropriate and irrelevant.

Since the end of World War II, Japan has consistently followed the path of a peace-loving nation and made innumerable contributions to the peace and prosperity of the world.

Japan's fundamental defense policy is the posture of passive defense strategy, which is exclusively defense-oriented, contrary to the Chinese side’s claims. China's assertion that Japan would exercise the right of self-defense even in the absence of an armed attack is completely erroneous.

Japan's fundamental stance regarding Taiwan is articulated in the "Japan-China Joint Communiqué" of 1972. Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are of paramount importance not only for Japan but also for the stability of the entire international community. We reiterate our consistent position of expecting that issues concerning Taiwan will be resolved peacefully through dialogue and emphasize that that approach is the interests of the entire world.

Japan believes that differences of views should be addressed through dialogue, for that is the core of the spirit of the UN Charter.

I thank you.