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World

Govt Struggles with Balancing Act Over U.S. Sanctions on ICC, Faces International Criticism

The government is in a difficult position after the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump announced new sanctions against International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane. Tokyo is caught between the rule of law, a pillar of its foreign policy, and the Japan-U.S. alliance, which is at the core of its diplomatic and security policies.

japannews.yomiuri.co.jp ·

The Japanese government finds itself in a challenging situation after the Trump administration imposed new sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) President, Tomoko Akane. Tokyo must balance the rule of law, a cornerstone of its foreign policy, against the critical U.S.-Japan alliance, which forms the bedrock of its diplomatic and security policies.

European nations and various international bodies have expressed their concerns over the U.S. sanctions imposed on senior ICC officials, including Akane. In response, Vice Foreign Minister Takehiro Funakoshi traveled to the United States to engage in discussions with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. Both ministers confirmed that Japan and the United States would strengthen their alliance.

The U.S. sanctions against ICC officials are a central topic of discussion between Funakoshi and Landau. Funakoshi reportedly conveyed to Landau that the U.S. sanctions are at odds with Japan's stance. However, the Japanese Foreign Ministry's official statement only mentioned the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" cooperation, Japan-U.S.-Republic of Korea collaboration, and the International Criminal Court.

The Japanese government has remained silent since the U.S. announcement of the sanctions on Akane and Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal. President Donald Trump's administration aims to weaken the ICC by penalizing its senior officials, as he harbors concerns about the international judicial body. The U.S. government is vigilant about the ICC, which might consider attacks on Iran and others as war crimes and potentially prosecute Trump in the future.

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi stated at a press conference on Friday, "The U.S. is taking a harsh stance [against the ICC]." The Japan-U.S. alliance has gained greater significance due to China and Russia's provocative actions near Japan's borders. The government is believed to be carefully avoiding provoking Trump, which could harm the countries' relationship.

Japan's revised security-related documents, including its total defense spending, are scheduled to be finalized this year. A key issue is determining an appropriate sum for the government's contribution, which it will negotiate with the United States. The current agreement on related costs, such as operating recreational services on U.S. bases in Japan and developing military facilities, is set to expire in March.

A U.S. diplomatic source clarified that the sanctions on the ICC and the Japan-U.S. alliance are separate issues. Ambassador George Glass, who visited Funakoshi in advance, explained the content of the sanctions to him. Despite having their own objectives, international human rights bodies and others have criticized Japan's approach, as it supports the rule of law as a diplomatic principle but has not criticized these U.S. actions.

During a press conference held online on Wednesday, Akane emphasized the need for the government to do its utmost to protect the rule of law.

Written by urgent.news from The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

Read the original at japannews.yomiuri.co.jp →

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Iceland Rejects Resuming EU Membership Talks Reykjavik, March 9 (Yonhap) -- Icelanders on Saturday voted against resuming European Union membership talks, dealing a major blow to the government's bid to join the EU. In a non-binding referendum, nearly 60 percent of Icelanders rejected the government's plan to resume talks with Brussels, which had been stalled since 2008. The government had sought to revive the talks, launched in 2005, in a bid to join the EU and adopt the euro. But the move was fiercely opposed by many Icelanders, who feared it would undermine their country's sovereignty and way of life. The referendum was called after the government failed to win parliamentary approval for its EU bid. Prime Minister Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson said he would step down if voters rejected the plan. He said he would respect the outcome of the referendum and begin consultations with other parties on the way forward. The government had argued that EU membership would help Iceland recover from a severe economic crisis in 2008. It also said membership would provide Iceland with greater access to European markets. But opponents argued that membership would lead to higher prices, especially for fish products, and threaten Iceland's rich fishing resources. They also feared that Iceland would lose control over its natural resources. The tiny North Atlantic island nation of 320,000 people has a unique culture and way of life. It has a highly developed economy and is known for its stunning landscapes and hot springs. Iceland has been negotiating with the EU since 2005 but put talks on hold in 2008 after a severe economic crisis hit the country. The government had hoped that joining the EU would help it recover from the crisis. But the talks stalled and Iceland's application was frozen. In 2012, Iceland's then-prime minister, Johanna Sigurdardottir, signed an agreement to restart talks. But the move was opposed by many Icelanders, who took to the streets in protest. The issue has been highly divisive in Iceland, with many fearing that EU membership would undermine the country's unique culture and way of life.

·hani.co.kr

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