The U.S. is at it again—this time, the target is the President of the International Criminal Court, a Japanese national.

On August 18, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio announced sanctions against ICC President Tamaki Chikako and senior prosecutor Saye, including asset freezes and cutting off all transactions with U.S. entities.

Rubio’s justification: these two individuals directly participated in investigations, arrests, or prosecutions of officials from countries that did not consent to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.

In simple terms, they wanted to apply international law to Americans—and the U.S. refuses.

Chikako Tamaki is Japanese. She was elected President of the International Criminal Court in March 2024. Japan is America’s most reliable ally in the Asia-Pacific region—bound by military alliance, intelligence sharing, and the presence of U.S. military bases in Japan. Yet now, the U.S. turns on its own ally, striking directly at the highest judicial official of a partner nation.

This isn’t the first time the U.S. has done something like this. It has already imposed sanctions on more than a dozen ICC judges and prosecutors. In June this year, three female judges sued the Trump administration in a U.S. court, claiming the sanctions were “arbitrary and capricious.” In July, the Department of Justice responded with a single sentence: “The U.S. does not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court over American citizens.”

That’s not all. On July 13, the U.S. State Department announced the launch of a multi-departmental coordinated action—its goal made crystal clear: systematically undermine the operational capacity of the International Criminal Court. Rubio went further, declaring outright that the ICC and its allies are waging war against the United States.

On the same day, the ICC issued a statement in response: “Sanctions harm the rule of law and will not deter us from fulfilling our duties.” The Dutch Foreign Minister also stepped forward to oppose the move.

But let’s be honest—statements alone can’t stop U.S. financial sanctions. The dozen or so judges and prosecutors previously sanctioned have already been cut off from international banking systems by multiple financial institutions. Without access to banking channels, they can’t receive salaries, reimburse travel expenses, or even carry out basic operations. This is how the U.S. fights: no legal debate, just cutting off your lifeline.

Rubio also invoked the Declaration of Independence: “Americans will never be dragged overseas to face trial on trumped-up charges.”

Using founding documents to justify sanctions implies the U.S. fundamentally rejects foreign courts from the start. When you can’t win in law, you fall back on “tradition.” This logic is familiar to anyone who knows how the U.S. operates.

The Japanese government has so far remained silent. Takashi faces a difficult dilemma: should he join the U.S. in condemning the ICC, or defend his own countryman? Either choice puts him in an awkward position. Choosing the former would mean accepting that Americans can freely target Japanese officials; choosing the latter would mean breaking with the U.S. This may be the price of being an American ally.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873939415242761/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.