New York, Sept. 22 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday emphasized her country’s consistent support for the International Criminal Court in her first General Debate speech to the U.N. General Assembly since taking office last October. “Japan will continue to contribute to the maintenance and development of a free and open international order based on the rule of law,” Takaichi said. But she did not mention the sanctions against ICC President Tomoko Akane, a Japanese national, launched by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. In response to the tense international situation, Japan is striving to make supply chains more resilient, strengthen cooperation for peace and stability and maintain and develop the international order, Takaichi said. She said that Japan is developing economic and energy cooperation plans for Gulf states in the Middle East. Meanwhile, she remarked, “Concerns about arbitrary export restrictions are growing throughout the international community.” She apparently had China in mind. Takaichi called for solidarity to maintain and strengthen the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty regime. Showing worries about the spread of nuclear and missile-related technologies through increased military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, Takaichi underlined that “the security of the Indo-Pacific and the Euro-Atlantic is inseparable.” She referred to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an example of a unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion and said that “it must be said that the Security Council is not functioning for international peace.” “The United Nations has never been more important than it is today,” she emphasized. Calling for urgent reform of the Security Council, she proposed that both permanent and nonpermanent members be increased at the powerful U.N. panel. Takaichi strongly sought the deletion of the so-called enemy clauses in the U.N. Charter, saying she makes the request for the sake of Japan’s pride and honor. Takaichi criticized North Korea’s nuclear and missile development programs as clear violations of Security Council resolutions. But “I am prepared to engage in dialogue and take concrete action,” she said as she seeks to resolve the issue of North Korea’s abduction of Japanese citizens. Japan aims to be the world’s leading country in the area of disaster risk reduction, she said, noting that her country will host the next Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, in October 2027. She also expressed a wish to hold an artificial intelligence summit soon. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
