Japan contributes $340 mil to Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

average for the year 2011-12 is still less than that of 2010, anyway, any contribution for good cause is welcomed.

Do you mean Japan's donation average is less? If so, is there any domestic incident you can think of, a massive earthquake and tsunami for example, which might have caused Japan to have needed some extra funding at home? Why the implied criticism?

I think it would have been wiser to donate the money to Japan so the consumption tax does not go up.

Or, as Apsara said, if a big earthquake or tsunami were ever to hit Japan the funds might be used here.

http://seetell.jp/en/25800

Meanwhile, the government has not been slow about sending Japan’s dwindling wealth overseas for 'humanitarian needs'.

. . .

In the last few months - all under the Noda regime - Japan has sent billions of Yen overseas to fund a highway in India, to Egypt's new government which is already in debt to Japan, untold amounts to Europe to bail out the banks and bondholders of Ireland, Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Italy, and 67 billion to Iraq to help it rebuild following the decade-long US occupation. This is not, by any means, an exhaustive list (schools in Pakistan, ports in Indonesia, etc).

Perhaps the Japanese people should appeal to the UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, and the WHO for help so that Japanese funds will reach the Tohoku area's Japanese people at a faster pace. Or maybe the Japanese should cause a little 'political crisis' of their own.

It's going to a good cause, but it is borrowed money that the J Government has no plan or Idea how to pay back. Claiming it can't afford medical checks for the Fukushima children one week then send multiple millions overseas gives a good idea how high in priorities Japanese people are held by their own Government.

im not sure but i guess doing donation is the only way to be allowed using USD that japan has saved so far.

Now we know what happened to all the monetary contributions for the victims of Fukushima... I was always taught that "charity starts at home"...

Great cause but Japan needs to take care of their own first rather trying to look good on the international stage.

What did China donate being the second largest economy in the world?

Did any readers or voters choose to spend this amount of money when Japan's people and its economy are at a precipice? The elected officials are spending the Japanese children's future.

gogogoMar. 15, 2012 - 10:41AM JST Great cause but Japan needs to take care of their own first rather trying to look good on the international stage.

gogogo, have to agree with you. Aids is mostly caused through sex, so why should others have to pay for the unsafe practises of others around the world. As far as Malaria goes, they could easily erradicate the problem by the use of DDT again which has not been proven to be harmful. A well known US doctor who specialises in tropical diseases and had spent some years treating malaria in other countries claims that the use of DDT would erradicate Malaria. That leaves TB. which shouldn't require that much in financial aid.

Look after yourselves first, huh? Sickening attitude... I don't believe Japan spent money budgeted for domestic recovery work in this case. No way. This is money earmarked for science - nothing else.

gogogoMAR. 15, 2012 - 10:41AM JST Great cause but Japan needs to take care of their own first rather trying to look good on the international stage.

Absolutely agree with gogogo here. They send too much money overseas trying to look good in the international community while the people over here suffer. Not being cold, Japan is a very generous nation and sends a lot of money overseas, but these times are really hard now. Just walk into any local park and see the blue tents. Tohoku my god, how can Japan afford to send so much out of the country.

Also sending money to 3rd world countries as foreign aid projects and whatever is not always the best way. I come from a 3rd world country and Japan sends a lot of money to our beggar government. There is always some corruption happening somewhere with the foreign aid money. Countries need to stand up for themselves rather than begging for aid.

Perhaps the Japanese economy isn't so bad after all....

Crazy. We are hearing stories of people being found dead from starvation, we have no idea what the medical costs are going to be in the near future due to radiation, we are being told there isn`t enough money for basic domestic needs so there has to be a tax increase, we have a LOT of people in need from the tsunami and nuclear disaster who have been denied an extention of unemployment but no jobs to turn to, and we have a lot of kids coming out of the foster care/orphan homes that are just sent away with basically nothing with no home to turn to and no way to get a degree yet the government has no money to support their education. Yet the government has hundereds of millions of dollars to spend on causes that have been supported for decades. Tax money should be used on tax payers needs and any extra can be used to help other causes. And I think starvation is a need not a luxury or want, and a kid that has had the disadvantage of being dumped in an orphange with no loving parents deserves a little break too.

If we follow the budgetary logics, Japan has more than recovered ( 246m$ - 114 m$ - 340m$ ) from the disasters & feeling comfortable to triple the donations. ( this is for a good cause admittedly ) !

When it comes to comparisons between these generous pay-outs & the Japanese fighting spirit inspired on bargaining of restricting allocations to the Tohoku victims.. The contrast seems inconceivable !

By the way, the sudden purchase of huge amount of Chinese govt bonds ( the Chinese onlookers observed the sudden change in Japanese gov't's attitude with lots of ??? ). This is a public financial strategy I presume, however, it demonstrates how / why the Japanese Govt manages its budget after pouring down a few dozens of whiskies-- to show to the world that Japan is Rich ? ( every presumes that Japan is rich anyway, do they need to do it NOW when resources are badly needed for reconstructions !

To help other nations to save lives is divine but with Japan's recent disaster, $340 Million can help a lot for the Japanese affected by the Tsunami and radiation. It's not being selfish but I can't seem to grasp the gesture of the JGovt. when in fact they can't even make a concrete budget compensation for disaster affected people in Fukushima and Miyagi Ken. I am sure the Global Funds Org will understand if Japan contribute less.