Security Council Reform: China Signals Its Veto

Abstract

The long-awaited landmark report on reforming the United Nations will most likely dominate the agenda when the General Assembly convenes next September. Among the high-level panels 101 recommendations, the most contentious relates to the expansion of the Security Council to 24 members from its current 15, of which 5 permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States wield veto power. The ten nonpermanent members are currently elected to two-year terms. Security Council reform has been on the agenda for more than a decade. But member nations have failed to agree on how big the council should become and whether other