I n New York this week, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has focused his diplomatic efforts on Japan's bid for permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council. At the Japan-U.S. summit meeting on Tuesday, Mr. Koizumi sought President George W. Bush's active support for this quest. What he received in response, however, was a matter-of-fact remark of endorsement. In his speech before the General Assembly on the same day, Mr. Koizumi stressed Japan's peace efforts and called for international support of its quest for permanent membership, but did not receive any enthusiastic response. Mr. Koizumi also conferred with leaders from Germany, Brazil and India, which are seeking permanent UNSC membership as well.

Winning a permanent seat on the Security Council is a long-standing goal of Japanese diplomacy. Mr. Koizumi, who was once cautious about Japan's joining the ranks of permanent members, is now taking a positive stand. Considering the size of the nation's global political and economic presence, there is little doubt that Japan is fit to play a major role in the U.N. And many Japanese believe this country deserves a status befitting its contributions to the U.N. budget -- which account for 19.5 percent of the total amount, the second largest share after the United States' 22 percent. The key question that must be asked, however, is this: What is Japan specifically prepared to do to promote international peace and stability.

The current five permanent members -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China -- all possess nuclear weapons. They do not rule out the use of force as a means of resolving international problems. This contradicts Japan's basic position that peace should be achieved by nonmilitary means -- a position that is underscored by the Constitution, which renounces "the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes."