Japanese authorities have described as “very regrettable” the sanctions adopted by the United States Department of the Treasury against the president of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Tomoko Akane, a jurist of Japanese nationality, insisting on Tokyo’s support for the international court.
Read more Israel attacks southern Lebanon areas again despite the ceasefire
In a brief statement, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that it “takes note” of Washington’s sanctions against the Japanese judge, president of the ICC, and emphasizes that the country “has systematically supported the ICC in its efforts to prosecute and punish the most serious crimes of concern to the international community and to uphold the rule of law.”
“From this point of view, the announced measures are very regrettable,” criticized Japanese diplomacy, emphasizing that Tokyo “will remain committed to strengthening the rule of law in the international community” and that it “will maintain communication with the countries involved.”
Washington announced sanctions against Akane and a lawyer from the organization this Tuesday for their role in the investigation of Israel for war crimes committed in the Gaza Strip.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has included the Japanese magistrate and Senegalese Abdoulaye Seye, a senior litigation lawyer, on its list, without providing further details.
Read more Trump’s reasons for postponing tariffs against Canada for three days
It has also issued a license authorizing the settlement of transactions involving both ICC members until next September 17.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified the measure by accusing the two latest affected of having “directly participated in the ICC’s initiatives to investigate, detain, imprison or prosecute officials” from governments that have not ratified the Rome Statute, which, he warned in a statement, “sets a dangerous precedent for all nations.”
This step is part of the United States’ crusade against the court based in The Hague, which it accuses of being a “corrupt supranational court” and “politicized” that abuses its authority.
Read more U.S. and South Korea halve military exercises following Trump’s request
