22 Million Chinese Seek to Block Japan's Bid to Join U.N. Council
By JOSEPH KAHN
Published: March 31, 2005
http://www.times.com/2005/03/31/international/asia/31cnd-china.html?hp&ex=1112331600&en=8b247aaa37cf1b88&ei=5094&partner=homepage
EIJING, March 31 - A grass-roots Chinese campaign to keep Japan out of the United Nations Security Council has gathered some 22 million signatures, increasing the chances that China will block Japan's bid to join the group, organizers and analysts said today.
The petition effort, conducted through popular Chinese Web sites, enjoys tacit support from the government, which has allowed state-controlled news media to cover the campaign prominently.
Japan is expected to be among several nations granted a permanent seat on a revamped Security Council under a plan that could come up for a vote in September. As one of the five existing permanent members, China has the power to veto the proposal. Beijing has not said how it plans to vote.