A former Japanese defence minister has urged Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to take a stronger stance against US sanctions imposed on the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its Japanese president, Tomoko Akane.
Gen Nakatani, a senior lawmaker in Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party, described Washington’s action as a direct attack on the rules-based international order and called on Takaichi to demand that the measures be withdrawn.
Nakatani said there was no justification for the ICC and Akane to face what he described as US “political coercion and sanctions”.
His call comes ahead of Takaichi’s expected trip to the United States in the coming weeks to attend the United Nations General Assembly, where she could also hold talks with President Donald Trump.
Nakatani leads a cross-party group of lawmakers from both the governing and opposition parties focused on human rights and diplomacy. The group plans to submit its demands to Takaichi’s top government spokesperson by the middle of September.
The former defence minister, who is also a national security expert, argued that Japan should not have to choose between maintaining its alliance with the US and defending the rule of law.
“The Japan-U.S. alliance and Tokyo’s adherence to the rule of law should not be ‘a choice of one or the other,’” Nakatani said.
He also warned that Japan’s failure to speak out when necessary could ultimately damage its relationship with Washington.
“Being docile and not saying what needs to be said at a crucial time as an ally, (Japan) would even lose trust from the United States,” Nakatani said.
Takaichi has faced criticism over her handling of the issue as she attempts to balance Japan’s commitment to international law with its close relationship with the Trump administration.
The prime minister previously described the US sanctions against the ICC as “unfortunate”, while saying the measures were inconsistent with Japan’s policy.
Nakatani is now calling for a stronger Japanese response, urging Takaichi to formally demand that Washington withdraw the sanctions against both the ICC and Akane. He also wants the government to reaffirm Japan’s support for the court and its president.
The US has accused the ICC of exceeding its authority and has imposed sanctions on around a dozen court officials in response to investigations involving Israeli officials over the Gaza conflict and US military personnel in Afghanistan.
The measures include freezing assets held within US jurisdictions and barring the targeted ICC officials and their family members from entering the United States.
