In discussions on the reform in the United Nations (UN) in the past, due to many countries opposition of expanding the membership of the UN Security Council, it became a compromise to establish quasi-permanent membership. But Japan, who always eyed for a seat in the UN Security Council, opposed such a move.

Germany, India and Brazil seeking permanent seats in the Security Council, have similar attitudes as Japan. So what is Japan opposing for?

Now Japan has settled in the second place in terms of economy.

This makes Japan unsatisfied with its international political status as a defeated country, and adjust the main target of its national foreign policy to be a political power. Therefore Japan exerts every effort to improve its image and increase its economic aid to developing countries. It handed formally request and plan to the UN early 1990s. Japan reckoned that it could become one of those in the Security Council at the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations in 1995.

However things turned out contrary: although some countries receiving Japan's aid expressed support in bilateral exchanges for Japan be become a permanent member of Security Council, under UN multi-lateral diplomatic circumstance, supporters are far fewer than the legal votes for reform in UN.

Koizumi, after taking office, continued to keep the previous national policy of the Japanese government and has been striving to quicken the pace. To make it Japan on one hand stepped up domestic adjustment, pushing amending the ninth item in the Constitution limiting Japan, and one the other hand, through sending troops to Iraq, showed that Japan is a country with full capability and responsibility.

Meanwhile it increased its aid to the developing countries and funding to the United Nations. Therefore Japan has high expectation for itself to say no in the Security Council. The opposition Japan made just indicates such an over-expectation.

So will Japan's dream come true? In short term, it is almost hopeless.

First, Japan has been following the United States in international policy, which makes it yet weighty to be a political power. It can not win the trust of most countries if it does not change such a policy.

Japan has long had no deep understanding and introspection on historical issues. Moreover prime ministers, senior officials often visit the Yasukuni shrine, which hurt the feelings of its neighbor countries. Imagine how hard it would be for Japan, who can hardly convince its neighbors, to own a seat in the permanent member seat.

Third, Japan is a nation heavily interested in immediate benefit. Japan wants, through economic aid to some countries, instant return in terms of international politics. This is not easy because short-term economic aid is far from enough for trust, there must be associated policies in other fields.

Fourth, both the reform in UN Security Council and amending the UN Charter are extremely complicated moves. According to the UN Charter, before formal amendment process, first, votes by two thirds or more UN members are needed, plus those of any nine countries. Votes by two thirds of the participants on the content of the amendment are required for a pass, so is the domestic approvals by two thirds members. It takes quite a long time to complete such a process.

In a word, no matter for Japan, India, Germany or Brazil, it can not go far without adequate patience.

The article, written by Zhou Yongsheng of China Foreign Affairs College, is translated by People's Daily Online