Antoaneta Bezlova: China guards its UN interests

From Inter Press Service, via Asia Times:

China’s decision to dispense with its customary diplomatic ambiguity on the matter of United Nations reform and come out firmly against a proposal for quick expansion of the Security Council is being presented by the state propaganda machine as an unavoidable act of opposition to Japan’s bid for a permanent seat on the council.

But diplomats and analysts say Beijing’s rejection of Japan’s bid is also a convenient posture that conceals its reluctance to surrender a very privileged position of its own – the only Asian and the only developing country with a permanent seat and veto power on the Security Council.