Tokyo, Oct. 10 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Saturday conveyed to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Tokyo’s concern over Washington’s sanctions against the International Criminal Court. In 15-minute phone talks, Motegi and Rubio also agreed to continue close communication over the issue of The Hague, the Netherlands-based court. In separate phone conversation, which also lasted 15 minutes, Motegi and ICC President Tomoko Akane, a Japanese national, discussed the current situation surrounding the ICC. On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, which criticizes the ICC for threatening the country’s sovereignty, added the court to its sanctions list. The United States took a similar action against Akane in August. The United States, which is not a member of the ICC, aims to dismantle the court. Meanwhile, Japan, which attaches importance to the rule of law, has demonstrated its stance of consistently supporting the ICC and continuing providing necessary assistance to the court. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday that Japan is “deeply concerned” about the U.S. sanctions against the ICC. “We will continue to reach out to the United States and extend necessary support to the ICC so that the court can fulfill its role and functions as originally envisaged,” she also said. At their meeting in September, Takaichi and Trump agreed that the foreign chiefs of Japan and the United States would maintain communication regarding issues related to the ICC. Over a murder-robbery case involving a U.S. Marine that occurred in Okinawa Prefecture, southernmost Japan, earlier this month, Motegi conveyed to Rubio in the phone talks the Japanese government’s position, including expressing regret over the incident. The two foreign ministers also confirmed that Japan and the United States would hold consultations to take effective measures to prevent the occurrence of such incidents. The Okinawa prefectural police department has arrested the serviceman, stationed at the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma air base in the Okinawa city of Ginowan, for allegedly killing a local woman in a room of a hotel in Naha, the capital of Okinawa, and stealing her belongings. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
