A Japanese resolution calling for the total elimination of nuclear weapons passed in a United Nations committee on Friday, but with significantly less support than in years past.
Although the Japan-sponsored motion on the issue had over the years enjoyed wider support, signs of apparent backpedaling on nuclear disarmament in the new text prompted many cosponsors to reconsider their blessing.
Tokyo has penned and put forward a similar resolution for the past 24 years in a row, with the latest version endorsed by 144 countries, including the United States and Britain, which also cosponsored it. That's 23 fewer than the number of states who backed it last year.