Japan looks to revive G-4 UNSC bid

The government plans to resubmit a plan along with Brazil, India and Germany to expand the composition of the U.N. Security Council in a bid to secure permanent seats for themselves, according to government sources.

Japan is hoping that reuniting forces with the three other countries will help gain increased support for its reform agenda after it failed last year without backing from the United States, the sources said Monday.

Japan went solo in pushing the reform initiative after parting with the three other countries.

Collectively called the Group of Four, or G-4, they aspire to be permanent members of the Security Council.

In 2005, the G-4 submitted a joint proposal to enlarge the Security Council from its current 15 members to 25 but was unsuccessful in the end due to insufficient support. The proposal was opposed by the U.S. and China, both permanent members of the Security Council.

Subsequently, Japan shifted from its earlier approach of working closely with the three other countries and focused on collaborating with the U.S.

The government is aiming to present the new plan around summer, the sources said.

It is uncertain whether the new plan can be presented by the time the U.N. General Assembly ends in September, given the gap between Japan, which is focused on its approach to the U.S., and the three other countries.

Out of consideration for the U.S., which does not want to broaden the Security Council, the government is considering imposing certain conditions, including making it necessary to gain support for the new G-4 plan from more than two-thirds of U.N. member states, according to the sources.