Japan Voices Regret over U.S. Sanctions on ICC Chief

Tokyo, Aug. 19 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government Wednesday expressed regret over a decision by the United States to impose sanctions against International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane of Japan. The U.S. sanctions against Akane are “deeply regrettable,” Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo. “We will respond while continuing to communicate closely with the United States and other countries involved,” the prime minister said. The government also voiced disappointment over Washington’s sanctions announced Tuesday in a statement issued by Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Toshihiro Kitamura earlier Wednesday. “Japan has consistently supported the ICC, which is a permanent international criminal court, in its efforts to prosecute and punish the most serious crimes of concern to the international community and to uphold the rule of law,” the statement said. “Japan will remain committed to strengthening the rule of law in the international community, while maintaining communication with related countries,” it said. U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has been stepping up pressure on the ICC in response to its decisions regarding investigations into alleged war crimes involving U.S. troops and the issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The administration vowed last month to use “all the tools” available to “dismantle the ICC.” The sanctions imposed by Tokyo’s sole formal ally on a Japanese leader of an international body took the Japanese government by surprise. “The United States likely wants to weaken the ICC at any cost,” a senior Foreign Ministry official said. “The impact of sanctions on the ICC chief is significant.” “Trump may be afraid he will also face prosecution,” a government source said. Japan is the largest financial contributor to the ICC, which prosecutes individuals for war crimes and other violations of international law. Some have called for a strong response to Washington’s move. One mid-ranking member of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party argued that the government should not escalate the situation, noting that “the Japan-U.S. alliance cannot be described as rock-solid.” “It’s unrealistic to try to change the Trump administration’s position,” a Foreign Ministry source said. “All we can do is support Akane as much as we can.” Outside the Takaichi administration, voices in both ruling and opposition parties are urging the Japanese government to take a firm stance against the sanctions. Former Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, who is co-leader of a suprapartisan group of lawmakers for human rights diplomacy, demanded at a press conference that the U.S. government withdraw the sanctions. The U.S. measure “is a serious violation of the rule of law,” he said. “(Washington) has crossed the line,” an LDP veteran said. “This cannot be overlooked.” Democratic Party for the People head Yuichiro Tamaki posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the sanctions were “outrageous” and said that “the Japanese government’s calls opposing any attempts to change the status quo by force are unpersuasive at a time when Tokyo is downplaying the rule of law.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]