The United States sanctions ICC President Tomoko Akane, and the Japanese government expresses regret

(Central News Agency, Tokyo, 19th, Comprehensive Foreign News Report) On the 18th, the US President Trump's administration "opened the door" to the International Criminal Court (ICC) again, announcing sanctions against the Japanese director Tomoko Akagen and another senior official. Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (equivalent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) said today that it "deeply regrets" this.

The sanctions are largely in response to an International Criminal Court investigation into U.S. ally Israel. In 2024, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu due to Israel's war actions in Gaza.

The International Criminal Court countered today that the U.S. sanctions "undermine the rule of law," saying that "when judicial officers are threatened when they act in accordance with the law, the international legal order itself is already at risk."

The "Asahi Shimbun" reported that Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement today as a spokesperson in response, "The International Criminal Court punishes and eliminates the most serious crimes in the international community. In order to implement the rule of law, it has always supported the International Criminal Court."

The statement also emphasized that "we will continue to communicate with relevant countries and other parties, and plan to continue to strengthen the rule of law in the international community."

The United States is not a party to the international treaty establishing the International Criminal Court, but it has sanctioned a number of ICC officials. These measures prohibit sanctioned individuals from entering the United States and prohibiting them from trading through the U.S. financial system.

Members of the Japanese Diet have also used strong words to condemn the US sanctions. Former Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, who is also a co-representative of the "Cross-Party Alliance of Foreign Ministers Thinking about Human Rights", jointly issued an emergency statement with others today, believing that this move "seriously infringes on the rule of law and condemns it in the strongest possible terms."

The statement also asked the Japanese government to "immediately lodge a clear protest and quickly withdraw sanctions", as well as continue to support Akane in performing his duties.

Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of Japan's opposition National Democratic Party, said at the party affairs meeting, "It is extremely regrettable. The Japanese government should stick to President Akaone and the International Criminal Court, and once again appeal to the international community for the importance of the 'rule of law.'" He emphasized, "If this matter is distorted, a medium-sized country like ours will be swallowed up 'due to one-sided power.' It is necessary to adhere to principles here."

In addition, Komeito leader Tomoko Taketani also expressed "strong concern and regret" for the United States at a party meeting.