So, it is official.

Singapore a nation, which like the rest of its Asian neighbours suffered greatly from Japanese militarism, will now lend its support to Tokyo for a seat at the UN Security Council.

Whilst the decision firmly places the republic alongside the United States, it will be interesting to watch how in the period leading to any final acceptance of new members, Asian nations will react to the Singapore decision.

And it will also be interesting to watch how the rest of the permanent UN Security Council members, China, Russia, Britain and France who have endorsed India for the coveted prize, will take to interpreting the support Japan is now getting.

Yet what is interesting are the implications behind the unstinting support Tokyo is deriving from Washington.