Takaichi Urges Diplomacy on Middle East, Backs ICC in First UN Address
In her first UN General Assembly speech, Japan's Sanae Takaichi urged de-escalation in the Middle East, backed the ICC and pressed for nuclear disarmament.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi used her first address to the UN General Assembly to press for diplomatic solutions to mounting international tensions, voice support for the International Criminal Court and reaffirm Tokyo's long-standing push for nuclear disarmament.
Speaking in New York on Tuesday, Takaichi drew attention to the Middle East, describing the situation there as increasingly tense and warning that free and safe navigation is coming under growing challenge. She singled out the Strait of Hormuz, calling it an international public good, and said Japan has been working with the international community on diplomatic efforts aimed at an early de-escalation of the wider regional situation.
Her remarks came against the backdrop of uncertainty in the global economy, with traffic through the Strait of Hormuz disrupted amid the US-Israeli war against Iran. Takaichi said Tokyo is putting together a comprehensive cooperation plan intended to strengthen the economic and energy resilience of Gulf states.
On nuclear issues, the prime minister said Japan has pursued disarmament and non-proliferation seriously and consistently since the end of the Second World War. She placed the pleas of the hibakusha at the centre of the country's aspiration for a world without nuclear weapons, saying the catastrophic consequences of such weapons must never be repeated. As the only country to have suffered atomic bombings in war, she described leading international efforts towards a nuclear-free world as Japan's mission.
Takaichi also reaffirmed Japan's commitment to a free and open international order grounded in the rule of law. She said any attempt to change the status quo unilaterally by force or coercion runs counter to the principles of the UN Charter and must not be tolerated anywhere.
Her speech signalled continued backing for the International Criminal Court at a time when the tribunal faces US sanctions. Washington views the court in The Hague as a threat to state sovereignty, and attention at home had focused on how Takaichi would address sanctions against Tomoko Akane, the Japanese national serving as the court's president. The prime minister said Japan has emphasised the rule of law in resolving all conflicts since the end of World War II, a stance reflected in its consistent support for international courts, including the ICC.
She also characterised Japan as a peace-loving nation that has maintained its exclusively defence-oriented policy, pushing back against Chinese criticism that its government's defence buildup reflects rising neo-militarism.
On disaster risk reduction, Takaichi noted that several large-scale disasters have caused severe damage around the world this year, including in Japan, and that such events are becoming more frequent and intense. She said Japan aims to become the world's leading nation in disaster risk reduction and has appointed a new Minister of State for International Disaster Risk Reduction, following a Cabinet reshuffle last week, to share Japanese expertise and technology and contribute to global efforts.
Takaichi told the assembly that the stable era that followed the Cold War is already a thing of the past, but argued there has never been a time when the United Nations was more important for bringing peace and stability to the world. Her address comes as doubts persist over the 81-year-old institution's ability to meet challenges to the rules-based order.