Japan elected as nonpermanent member of UNSC for 2009-2010 term

Saturday 18th October, 06:20 AM JST

NEW YORK —

The U.N. General Assembly on Friday elected Japan and four other countries as nonpermanent members of the Security Council for two-year terms beginning in January 2009. Austria, Turkey, Uganda and Mexico were the other countries that received at least the two-thirds majority vote of 128 required for election from the 192 members of the assembly. The five countries will fill an identical number of UNSC seats which will be vacated at the end of December.

Japan defeated Iran 158 to 32, winning one seat allocated to Asian members of the United Nations. Indonesia currently holds the seat. ‘‘We believe that this is the manifestation of trust and confidence member states have in Japan’s role in the Security Council’’ in peace and security, development, the U.N. Millennium Development Goals, food crisis and climate change, Japanese Ambassador to the United Nations Yukio Takasu told reporters.

Turkey and Austria won two seats earmarked for the ‘‘Western Europe and Others’’ region, defeating Iceland by garnering 151 votes and 133 votes, respectively. Existing nonpermanent members for the category are Italy and Belgium.

Japan defeated Iran overwhelmingly in view of the confrontation between Iran and other U.N. members, especially the United States and European countries, over its nuclear program. Japan is also believed to have received support from other U.N. members in light of the second largest financial contributor to the world body after the United States.

Japan sees Security Council membership as vital for it to intensify its bid for permanent council membership as intergovernmental talks on the proposed expansion of the U.N. membership structure are to begin soon.

‘‘In the course of next year, I am convinced that the momentum of Security Council reform after all so many years will be high,’’ Takasu said. ‘‘We hope that Japan’s active participation as a nonperamanent member over the next two years will be conducive to the reform that will include expansion of permanent members and nonpermanent members,’’ he said.

U.S. Deputy Ambassador Alejandro Wolff pledged to support Japan’s bid for permanent membership in the council.

‘‘Of course Japan is a country that we support for permanent membership and the fact that it was elected by such a resounding number of votes also brings us great satisfaction,’’ said Wolff. ‘‘We expect them to be an outstanding contributor to the work of the council.’‘

The General Assembly elects five countries each year to fill an identical number of vacated seats.

The Security Council consists of five permanent veto-wielding members and 10 nonpermanent members who serve two-year terms.

In Tokyo, Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone said in a statement that ‘‘Japan will play an active and constructive role at the Security Council which is tasked with maintaining peace and security of the international community.’‘

‘‘Japan will strive to realize Security Council reform and Japan’s permanent membership at an early time,’’ Nakasone said.

While U.N. members generally agree that Security Council reform is necessary to help the United Nations effectively cope with new challenges in the 21st century, there are widely divergent views on how to reform it. Past negotiations failed over the number of new seats and whether veto should be granted to new permanent members.

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Latest 15 of 35 Total Comments Show All

Betting at 02:43 PM JST - 18th October

Chequebook diplomacy at its best.

The UN is hardly the best place in the world for international diplomacy, but it very much sucks that when a country hides behind a constitution that has an article 9 in is allowed to be a even a nonpermanent member of the UNSC.

So even though Japan will partake in discussions that might eventually invlove men and women of other nations dying, Japan will say, "Oh yes, but we have article 9 so we aren't allowed to send any soldiers in a military role, but that's ok because we'll allow you to send your soldiers to fight and die if needed. We're Japanese after all".
some14some at 02:51 PM JST - 18th October

A routine rotation.
bandogeek at 02:57 PM JST - 18th October

I think Japan has earned a permanent spot in the Security Council and hopefully will soon receive that spot. Japan is a peaceful nation that is and will be dedicated to world peace. The only thing left to do is lift the 9th article from the constitution so if Japan needs to they can use their forces to better our planet.
LIBERTAS at 04:01 PM JST - 18th October

What did Jack Kennedy once say? "Northern hospitality and Southern efficiency!" That will be the sum of Japan's interference with the business of the unwitting international community. Gawd help us all!
apecNetworks at 04:32 PM JST - 18th October

The UN should steer clear of any new permanent members and to not promote the veto vote for the new members. From the perspective of looking into the future, permanent members means, "members FOREVER". The debate in the General Assembly should be new demarcations for new members, such as power members should have a semi permanent status for 25/35/45 years. Strong and impressive members could have 5/10/15 years semi-permanent status, so on and so forth. In this way, those in the General Assembly who DO know who are leaders can calibrate at what level certain strong members should be. Veto vote is death if it is expanded to a certain degree - example: 2075 AD, the UN can't do anything because the 25 countries w/ veto votes are always vetoing something.

The UN should consider the obvious pitfalls that will develop w/ specific UN Reforms.

Given the funding problems in the UN, a stronger emphasis on finance is needed: I propose a "UN Economic Security Council", staffed by some of the best financial minds in the world. Alot of them you may find in APEC.
European1 at 04:52 PM JST - 18th October

‘‘We expect them to be an outstanding contributor to the work of the council.’’

The same BBC was saying, so here we are: more you pay (contribution is called) then you get regardless of xenophobia, refusing rights to foreigners, abductions of foreign children by J spouses where they find heaven, child prostitution legal etc.

JT don`t delete this post as you like to do with mine. I know that truth pain, but let this stay
presto345 at 08:22 PM JST - 18th October

The same BBC was saying, so here we are: more you pay (contribution is called) then you get regardless of xenophobia, refusing rights to foreigners, abductions of foreign children by J spouses where they find heaven, child prostitution legal etc.

JT don`t delete this post as you like to do with mine. I know that truth pain, but let this stay

Excuse me? The words are English, but . . .
Shumatsu_Samurai at 09:20 PM JST - 18th October

Glad to see that Japan got re-elected. I would like to see it extend its ability to participate in military operations, though I don't think that should be a block on becoming a permanent UNSC member. Germany imposes lots of restrictions on its troop deployments and is also gunning for it.

I'm not surprised that Chinese general opinion is still against Japan, but if China still indicates it would veto Japan alone rather than blocking all entrants then it would seriously damage Sino-Japanese relations and make Japanese think whether there really is a point in trying to obtain Beijing's goodwill. The CCP can't honestly expect Japan to co-operate more on issues China finds important AND at the same time not allow Japan a seat at the big table.

I wonder if the veto system should be amended so that it only works if you have two permanent members voting against a resolution. It would be highly likely you could find a like-minded country to support you, but it would stop just one country blocking a proposal. Seems fair to me. Expanding the UNSC permanent members would make it less likely that a single pm would see its interests threatened.

FYI the reason no new countries have got on to the UNSC as permanent members yet is because last time the UN addressed this issue African states got in a paddy because they weren't included and blocked discussions.
LIBERTAS at 10:24 PM JST - 18th October

I can imagine the UNSC as a person, calling for an ambulance, after Japan was chosen. "9.1.1., my left ventricle just slammed shut. Chronic sclerotic blockage syndrome. Inability to make a decision. Doh-shi-yo? Doh-shi-yo? Doh-shi-yo? Hello, hello? 9.1.1.? 9.1.1.? 9.1.1.? (Damn, I knew I should have switched that keitai on before I called!) Never needed to call 110 when I worked for the Japan Nuclear Agency!
Triple888 at 10:26 PM JST - 18th October

"I'm not surprised that Chinese general opinion is still against Japan, but if China still indicates it would veto Japan alone rather than blocking all entrants then it would seriously damage Sino-Japanese relations and make Japanese think whether there really is a point in trying to obtain Beijing's goodwill."

People seem to forget why Sino-Japan relations were even damaged in the first place.
LIBERTAS at 10:35 PM JST - 18th October

"People seem to forget why Sino-Japan relations were even damaged in the first place." P E O P L E forget nothing. They C H O O S E not to remember! And these P E O P L E are the ones who vote for the other P E O P L E who they want to run the country, to ensure that P E O P L E never hear the truth. That's what happens, again and again and again. Just look, these P E O P L E elected that buffoon Ishihara, not once, not twice but THREE times. Racist xenophobic P E O P L E vote for racist xenophobic P E O P L E who maintain Japan as a racist xenophobic county. No mystery here.
rjd_jr at 01:22 AM JST - 19th October

Again how telling that some choose to focus on extreme non issues about Japan's "human rights" issues, when as others have brilliantly pointed out look at what nations are already on the council such as Russia and China. Japan is Disneyland compared to those other members, who TRULY committ horrible acts of human rights violations and aggressive military actions.

Even more fitting is how some choose to conveniently ignore the fact that Japan won out over Iran. We are talking about Iran, an axis of evil, a country known for extreme human rights violations (execution of minors, execution/persecution of gays, nuclear program, etc. etc.). A country suspected of harboring terrorists and aiding the insurgency in places like Iraq and Afghanistan that have killed THOUSANDS of U.S. troops.

Any freedom lover or American that considers themselves patriots or lovers of democracy, to nitpick over Japan and completely ignore Iran is nothing but a hypocrite and shows their true anti Japan bias.

Congratulations to Japan!
MeanRingo at 04:53 AM JST - 19th October

Rjd if you would just fly over to Japan and live there for a while I think your glowing reviews of the nation and its people would change. Please pay a visit to Japan. Please, I'm getting sick of your dribble.
soldave at 03:05 PM JST - 20th October

The 5 permanent members of the UNSC don't need to be expanded IMO, whether it be Japan, Iran, Germany or whoever else that wants to be a part of it. Now whether the permament members should be on a long-term rotation is a different matter, but they should be happy with a nonpermanent seat at the moment.
soldave at 03:07 PM JST - 20th October

rjd - But if you're having at Iran for having a nuclear program, then you'll also be taking exception to all current members of the UNSC, along with Israel and others?