China’s UN enemy-clause claim ‘unacceptable’–Japan
Japan on Tuesday rebuffed China’s claim that it can take military action against nations defeated in World War II based on the UN “enemy state clause,” saying it is “contrary to the facts” and “totally unacceptable,” amid a bilateral diplomatic row.
The remarks by Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara at a press conference came after the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo suggested on social media last week that the UN founding members retain the right to act if Japan were to engage in aggression again.
Japan and China, whose ties have often been strained by territorial and wartime history issues, are in a diplomatic spat following Beijing’s criticism of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi over her recent comments on how Japan would view a military attack on Taiwan.
The enemy state clause of the UN Charter allows “enforcement action” against any enemy state, such as Japan, Germany and Italy, without Security Council authorization if it is aimed at preventing a renewal of aggressive policies.
‘Defunct’
Citing a 1995 General Assembly resolution demanding early removal of the clause, which China voted for, Japan has hit back at Beijing, saying its recent remarks—describing the now-defunct stipulation as still effective—conflict with the UN position.
At the news conference, Kihara—the top government spokesperson—stressed that Japan is “open” to dialogue with China at various levels.
On Nov. 7, Takaichi, who took office last month and is viewed as pro-Taiwan, said a military attack on the democratic, self-ruled island could present a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, possibly enabling the Self-Defense Forces to exercise the right of collective self-defense to support the United States.
Communist-led China views Taiwan as a renegade province to be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary, insisting the matter is purely an “internal affair.” The two sides have been governed separately since they split in 1949 after a civil war.
Missile deployment
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, meanwhile, brushed off China’s claim that Japan’s planned deployment of missiles on remote southwestern islands is provocative and “escalates tensions,” saying the weapons are for national security.
Koizumi, who visited Yonaguni Island in Okinawa Prefecture on Sunday, where Japan intends to station a unit of medium-range, surface-to-air missiles, said at a separate press conference that the same type of weapon has already been deployed nationwide.
Yonaguni is located about 110 kilometers from Taiwan.
Later Tuesday, Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Takehiro Funakoshi held talks with Chinese Ambassador Wu Jianghao in Tokyo. They are believed to have exchanged views on Takaichi’s comments, but the ministry provided no details of the meeting.
