Japan looks for US support for Security Council seat

Japan’s foreign minister was today preparing for an eight-day trip to the US to push Tokyo’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, an issue which has ignited tensions with China.

Nobutaka Machimura was scheduled to meet with top UN officials, including secretary-general Kofi Annan, as well as representatives of member nations in New York to discuss UN reform and convey Japan’s desire to become a permanent member on the Security Council, Foreign Ministry officials said.

Machimura’s visit signals Tokyo’s determination to gain a permanent Security Council seat despite China’s suggestions it would oppose the Japanese bid.

China is currently the only permanent Asian member of the council, and would be loathe to give up that status, which carries veto powers.

Massive and sometimes violent anti-Japanese demonstrations took place in major Chinese cities recently over the UN issue and other disputes between the rival Asian powers.

Meanwhile, Machimura is also set to hold talks on Monday with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington, Kyodo News reported, quoting unidentified sources.

They’re expected to discuss their strong bilateral alliance, stalled international disarmament talks on North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme, and the Japan-China tensions.