Japan gets regional support for UN bid

Japan gets regional support for UN bid

TOKYO (AFP): Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama received near unanimous support for Tokyo's bid to join the UN Security Council during his recent tour Asian tour, but the question is far from resolved at home.

Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand all unreservedly supported Japan becoming a permanent member of the Security Council joining Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

On Saturday Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was the first to back the move, followed by Singapore President Ong Teng the next day and Thai Premier Chuan Leekpai Monday.

Chuan is due here tomorrow for an official visit.

Japan was "the best possible candidate" among Asian countries Chuan said, adding that Japan must not delay in making clear its intentions because to do so would be to see Asian countries looking for another candidate.

But support did not come from the Philippines or Vietnam, the first two stops on Murayama's tour, neither of which took a position.

But in January Philippine Foreign Minister Roberto Romulo had said his government supported Tokyo's candidature.

For all the support expressed, Murayama was unable to give a clear indication to his hosts as to Tokyo's intentions.

Japanese politicians are divided over the question, which is politically sensitive as it touches on the country's future international commitments.

Murayama has treated the issue with extreme caution since he came to power in June as the country's first socialist prime minister in 47 years.

No campaign

He believes Japan should not mount an active campaign to get elected to the Security Council, and if picked it should not be obliged to take on an international military role which its post- war pacifist constitution specifically prohibits.

On the other hand Foreign Minister Yohei Kono, who comes from the conservative Liberal Democratic Party, the socialists' partner in the government, has openly said he believes Japan should have a seat, but under certain conditions.

He believes Japan should continue to refrain from building nuclear weapons, even though all the other permanent members are nuclear powers.

The other two conditions which would have to be met, are support from other Asian countries and from the Japanese people.

In Asia, China and South Korea, both of which suffered most under Japanese military rule before and during World War II, have not taken a firm stand.

Another Japanese minister who has joined the fray is Minister of International Trade and Industry Ryutaro Hashimoto, who has criticized Murayama for hesitating, saying Sunday that Japan could suffer 'disadvantages" if it stayed out of the council.

But despite differing views on the Security Council issue and claims that Murayama has failed to define clearly what role Japan should play in the region, the Japanese public apparently gives him credit for his handling of international affairs during his Southeast Asian tour.

The public support rate for his cabinet's rose to 43.3 percent, exceeding for the first time the percentage of those people critical of his administration, a poll published Wednesday by the leading Yomiuri newspaper revealed.