RP supports Japan bid for Security Council seat

The Philippines strongly supports Japan’s bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo said yesterday.

Romulo said the government was still studying similar bids by Germany, India and Brazil, and indicated that Manila also would support the aspiration of neighboring Indonesia — the world’s largest Muslim country and a fellow member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

"We support Japan’s bid for a permanent seat in the Security Council, but the inclusion of the three others we have to study that... very carefully," Romulo told reporters.

He noted that last September, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda made a statement during a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers in New York that Indonesia should be considered for a permanent council seat.

Japan, long criticized as lacking political clout on the international stage in contrast to its economic prowess, wants to be a council member and has proposed UN reform along with Germany, Brazil and India. China, a permanent Security Council member, opposes the change.

The four countries have been calling for expansion of the council from 15 to 25 members, including six new permanent seats. The other two seats would be set aside for Africa.

The current five permanent members are the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain, all of which could veto any proposed expansion. — AP