US announces sanctions against International Criminal Court

China News Service, Washington, October 9 (Reporter Sha Hanting) The U.S. State Department announced on the 9th local time that it would impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court.

U.S. Secretary of State Rubio said in a statement that day that U.S. President Trump "will never allow the International Criminal Court to prosecute Americans." Therefore, the United States will impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court that will "prohibit transactions with it, cut off its resources, and paralyze its ability to operate."

Rubio also stated that the U.S. position is that the United States and its people are not subject to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. Many of the U.S. allies are members of the court and rely on U.S. military protection, hoping that these allies will restrain the court. Otherwise, the United States will continue to take action to dismantle the court until Americans are no longer threatened.

The President of the International Criminal Court, Japanese Tomoko Akagen, issued a statement on the same day, saying that the United States' move was "an attempt to obstruct justice and prevent the court from fulfilling its original mission."

In recent years, the United States has repeatedly announced sanctions on ICC judges and prosecutors on the grounds that the ICC is investigating American personnel and issuing arrest warrants for the Israeli Prime Minister and former Defense Minister. In August this year, the United States announced sanctions against Tomoko Akane, President of the International Criminal Court. (over)