Dear Mr Ambassador: What are you voting if China invades the Senkaku Islands?

At a recent interview with the Japan Times, the Spanish ambassador to Japan smiled to the cameras, praised Japanese culture, and dared to state that the relationship between the two countries was “devoid of any conflict or confrontation”. Unfortunately Mr Navarro failed to explain how Spain would vote should she be elected to the UN Security Council and China invade the Senkaku Islands. In 1982 Argentina invaded the Falklands, in the South Atlantic. Both Japan and Spain held a seat at the UN Security Council at that time. Japan voted against aggression. Spain abstained. Now Madrid is campaigning to return to the UN Security Council in 2015-2016.

His Excellency Mr Miguel Navarro smiles a lot, but avoids the issue whether Spain will support democracies this time

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe often refers to the Falkland Islands. It is his way of making it clear that Japan will resist Chinese expansionism.

Therefore, it is imperative to ask His Excellency Spanish Ambassador Miguel Navarro the following question: If Madrid returns to the UN Security Council and Beijing invades the Senkaku Islands, what will Spain vote? Will you behave like you did in 1982 and side with the dictators? Or will you support democracies this time?

Mr Navarro, please answer openly and unambiguously. Japan and all the other maritime democracies have a right to know.

Alex Calvo is a guest professor at Nagoya University