China should shoulder a larger share of U.N. dues to better reflect its growing economic might, Japan said Wednesday in a new proposal to lower Tokyo's own contributions to the world body.
It is the second time this year that Tokyo, which failed to gain a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council despite paying almost a fifth of the U.N. budget, has suggested regional rival and permanent council member Beijing boost its fees.
In Japan's newest proposal, submitted to a U.N. panel overnight in New York, China's share of annual U.N. contributions would jump to 3.9 percent from 2.1 percent in 2006. Payments by Japan, the second-largest contributor after the U.S., which pays 22 percent, would fall to 15.3 percent from 19.5 percent in 2006.
Under the proposal, Germany and permanent council member Russia would also up their contributions, while those from Britain and France, also permanent members, would fall. The U.S. share would remain the same.
The review would make contributions "more equitable and fair, by reflecting the actual economic situation . . . and duly take into account its status and responsibilities in the U.N.," the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.