U.S. Pressures The Hague International Criminal Court, Japan Feels Embarrassed
According to media reports from Japan's Mainichi Shimbun and others: On the 13th, the U.S. Department of State announced it would eliminate what it describes as a threat posed by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, to U.S. sovereignty. Specific measures currently under consideration include lobbying member states to withdraw from the ICC—Japan being the largest financial contributor to the court.
The International Criminal Court, located in The Hague, Netherlands, is a permanent international criminal tribunal responsible for prosecuting national leaders and individuals accused of war crimes. Akiko Nakajima of Japan served as its first chief. A total of 125 countries and regions are members, but major nations including the United States, Israel, China, and Russia have not joined.
The Trump administration had previously criticized the ICC for investigating alleged war crimes committed by U.S. military personnel during the Afghanistan conflict, as well as for issuing arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and others.
Last February, Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on ICC personnel, targeting the prosecutor and judges specifically.
According to the U.S. Department of State, the ICC will not be granted authority to prosecute American officials or military personnel.
On the 13th, Secretary Rubio delivered a video statement criticizing the ICC, calling it "a globalist bureaucratic institution with almost unlimited power and non-elected leadership." He stated: "The danger posed by this international court will only increase. It threatens our political and judicial systems in every way."
Japanese media report that if the U.S. demands Japan exit the ICC, Japan’s years of effort and investment would be completely lost.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870651226220553/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author