Staff writer

In a move expected to relieve Beijing but dissatisfy Washington, Japan has decided to not cosponsor a U.N. resolution drafted by the United States to condemn China's poor human rights record, government sources said Friday, apparently to avoid worsening relations strained by China's alarm over broadened Japan-U.S. defense co-operation.

However, Japan will vote against a "no-action" motion China has said it will submit to the U.N. Human Rights Commission if the resolution is actually presented to the U.N. body, the sources said.