Japan Elected UNSC Nonpermanent Member for 12th Time
10:54 JST, June 10, 2022
New York (Jiji Press)—Japan was elected a nonpermanent member of the U.N. Security Council on Thursday, winning the seat for an unprecedented 12th time.
Japan will serve as a nonpermanent member for two years from Jan. 1, 2023, coming back to the powerful U.N. panel after its previous term in 2016-2017.
The country was the unified candidate for a nonpermanent Security Council seat allocated to the Asia-Pacific region in Thursday’s election to choose those replacing five outgoing nonpermanent members.
The Security Council is the only U.N. body that can make binding decisions on member states. It is composed of five permanent members—the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China—and 10 nonpermanent members.
The five permanent members are currently divided chiefly over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Late last month, a U.S.-led resolution to strengthen sanctions against North Korea following its launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile was vetoed by China and Russia.
Japan is expected to face difficult negotiations since it will join the Security Council at a time when the council has become dysfunctional.
“Japan will aim to maintain and strengthen the international order based on the rule of law, while cooperating in order for the UNSC to fulfill its expected role, through close communication and careful dialogue with other member states,” Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said in a statement Friday Japan time.
“The world continues to face many conflicts and various challenges” including over the Ukrainian crisis, the statement said.
“Japan will continue to actively engage in UNSC reform and lead discussions” to strengthen the functions of the United Nations including the General Assembly, the statement added.
In addition to Japan, Mozambique, Ecuador, Malta and Switzerland were elected. The five will replace India, Kenya, Mexico, Ireland and Norway, whose terms as nonpermanent members will expire at year-end.
Half of the 10 nonpermanent members are replaced every year.
"World" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
China Mutes Memorialization of Reformer Hu Yaobang; Memories Could Spark Critique of Xi Administration
-
UNRWA Director Describes Catastrophic Destruction in Gaza; Says Relief Trucks Robbed, ‘People’s Hearts Destroyed’
-
Search Continues for Missing People After 72-Hour Window Ends in Quake-Hit Taiwan; Weather Complicating Rescue Efforts
-
Former U.S. Pacific Command Head Touts Alliance; Harris Sees China, World Through ‘Dark Lens’
-
N. Korea Fires Ballistic Missile into Sea of Japan
JN ACCESS RANKING
- M6.0 Earthquake Hits Japan’s Tohoku Region; Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi Prefectures Observe 4 on Japanese Scale With No Risk of Tsunami
- Cherry Blossoms Draw Crowd to Tokyo’s Ueno Park; Viewing Season Kicks Off to Slow Start
- China Mutes Memorialization of Reformer Hu Yaobang; Memories Could Spark Critique of Xi Administration
- Shinkansen Services Suspended After Man ‘Searches for Phone’ on Tracks; Disruption Affects About 14,000 Passengers
- Whaling Mother Ship Built in Japan for 1st Time in 73 Years