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Japan urges upholding rule of law amid US ICC campaign
Japan is the ICC’s largest financial contributor and has consistently supported the court, while analysts said the dispute could test Tokyo’s international commitments against reliance on Washington’s security support.
Japan has voiced concern over a US campaign targeting the International Criminal Court, placing Tokyo in a diplomatic bind as it seeks to defend the tribunal it has long championed without straining its main security ally. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Japan places importance on eradicating and preventing serious crimes and upholding the rule of law, while adding that Japan has consistently supported the ICC in its role as a permanent international criminal tribunal.
The ICC’s current president, Tomoko Akane, is Japanese, and observers noted that Japan has also strongly advocated for the court and the rule of law in the international community. Analysts warned that Japan was likely to avoid a direct clash with Washington, but the episode could deepen doubts about US reliability.
They also said Tokyo may be forced to weigh its international-law commitments against its dependence on Washington’s security umbrella, highlighting how the dispute could have broader implications beyond legal affairs.