Japan has updated its policy guidelines for official development assistance -- concessionary aid to developing countries -- for the first time in 11 years. ODA has long been considered a key instrument of Japanese diplomacy, but its effectiveness as such has been admittedly less than satisfactory. The new ODA charter is designed to improve this aspect of Japanese aid.
The revised charter points out that the world today is beset by "many interrelated problems" amid ongoing globalization. Among these problems are the economic gap between rich and poor, ethnic and religious conflicts, terrorism, suppression of freedoms and human rights, environmental deterioration and gender inequalities. And it defines the purpose of ODA as "contributing to the peace and development of the international community and thereby ensuring the nation's security and prosperity."
The emphasis on national security and prosperity is to be expected. Given the complexity of the international situation, however, it is not always easy to determine what constitutes the national interest. Addressing the question requires a multifaceted and rigorous analysis of the situation.