Tokyo. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has described the sanctions imposed by the US on International Criminal Court (ICC) President and Japanese citizen Tomoko Akane as not in line with Japan’s stand.
He said that Japan is taking this American action very seriously and has been continuously supporting the ICC.
Prime Minister Takaichi told reporters that Japan remains steadfast in its commitment to the ICC. He had earlier also termed the US sanctions as “extremely unfortunate”, saying that Japan had tried till the last minute to persuade the US not to take action against Akane.
The US recently imposed sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio alleged that both officials have been directly involved in ICC actions against officials of countries that have not accepted the court’s jurisdiction.
Washington says the ICC has overstepped its bounds by trying to establish jurisdiction over citizens of the US and other non-member countries.
The Trump administration has described it as a threat to American sovereignty and has indicated that additional steps may be taken against the court.
At the same time, Japan, one of the major financial supporters of the ICC, has made it clear that it will continue to support the independence and role of the institution. Prime Minister Takaichi said that Japan will keep an eye on the future situation and take appropriate steps if necessary.
