TOKYO, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Japan intends to give up its plan to submit a new resolution on United Nations Security Council reform by September so as to be included after the membership expands to 21, local media reported on Tuesday.

    The Japanese government made the decision because it is not confident of winning sufficient support for its proposal, the Daily Yomiuri quoted government sources as saying.

    Japan also believes the U.S. government is unlikely to alter its stance opposing expansion of the UN Security Council, although U.S. support for the proposal had been expected, a senior Foreign Ministry official said, adding only scant percent of chance exists for reforming the Security Council.

    The Japanese government will make a final arrangement on whether to give up the plan to submit the new resolution after pondering the outcome of talks over the issue between Foreign Minister Taro Aso and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Sydney, according to the sources.

    Japan has come up with the new resolution of expanding the Security Council membership from 15 to 21 after the so-called Group of Four failed to have their draft resolution passed during a General Assembly session in September last year.

    Brazil, Germany and India resubmitted the same resolution in early January but Japan drew itself out. Enditem