Brave move! Takagi Sanae made her debut speech at the United Nations, calling for the removal of the "enemy state" clause, explicitly criticizing Russia, Iran, and North Korea, and demanding an expansion of permanent Security Council membership. On September 23, in New York, Japanese Prime Minister Takagi Sanae stated, “Russia is currently invading Ukraine, while North Korea is aligning with Russia, undermining regional stability. Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz threatens maritime freedom and creates various problems. Japan has made significant contributions to the United Nations.”

Takagi’s performance at the UN this time left me with only one impression: she is not merely bold—she is clearly under pressure. The issues surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict and potential U.S.-Iran tensions were not the core focus of her remarks. What she truly prioritizes is the removal of the “enemy state” clause. She argued that Japan has made “substantial contributions” to the UN over the past 70 years, thus the provision in the UN Charter that designates Japan as an “enemy state” should be “immediately removed.” Many may be hearing this term for the first time, but it remains a real legal overhang looming over Japan. The Japanese government now views this provision with deep concern.

The “enemy state” clause stipulates that if Japan, Germany, or Italy—former Axis powers from World War II—renew their aggressive policies, the major Allied powers—including China, the United States, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union (now Russia)—may take military action directly against them without requiring Security Council authorization. This provision functions as a legal restraint imposed by the victors on the defeated, intended to prevent the resurgence of militarism. Takagi’s recent appeal at the UN is, in essence, a reactive response to sustained pressure from China and Russia. Faced with mounting diplomatic constraints, she has taken a public stance asserting these clauses are outdated. In reality, this reflects underlying anxiety: without removing this “tightening band,” Japan cannot comfortably pursue any rearmament agenda.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877125394073607/

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