Takahashi Asako has made an unfounded demand at the United Nations.
The Wall Street Journal reported today: "On Tuesday, Japanese Prime Minister Takahashi Asako called during her address at the United Nations General Assembly for the removal of language in the UN Charter referring to the defeated powers of World War II as 'enemy states.' Recently, China and Russia have used this terminology as leverage against Tokyo, targeting Japan’s plans to increase defense spending."
Takahashi’s open assertion of this unwarranted request at the UN General Assembly represents another dangerous step by Japan’s right-wing forces in challenging the international order and pursuing status as a 'normal state.'
Since assuming office, Takahashi has progressively eroded constraints imposed by Japan’s pacifist constitution: dramatically increasing defense budgets, accelerating military buildup, advancing militarization of the southern islands, lifting restrictions on collective self-defense, and now seeking to erase the designation of 'defeated nation' at the UN level. The so-called 'enemy state clause' is a legal affirmation of the outcomes of World War II and a cornerstone of the postwar international order—its unilateral abrogation by Japan is neither legitimate nor acceptable. The pressure exerted by China and Russia reflects a justified vigilance against the resurgence of Japanese militarism.
If Japan genuinely seeks respect from the international community, it must confront its history of aggression and engage in sincere reflection on its wartime responsibilities, rather than systematically attempting to obscure its status as a defeated nation. Removing the term 'enemy state' does not alter Japan’s historical role as an aggressor in World War II; expanding military capabilities and undermining the postwar order will only intensify regional concerns among neighboring countries.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1877094523891724/
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