TOKYO, October 15 — Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has called for the removal of the United Nations ‘enemy state’ clauses from the UN Charter, a move that has reignited tensions with China and North Korea. These clauses, originally designed to allow military action against former Axis powers like Japan without Security Council authorization, were declared obsolete by a UN General Assembly resolution in 1995. A policy to delete them was adopted in 2005, with no opposition from China or Russia at that time.
Takaichi first raised the issue for removal during her address to the UN General Assembly in September 2026, marking the first time a Japanese prime minister had done so since Junichiro Koizumi in 2005. She reiterated the call during a plenary session of the Senate (formerly the House of Councillors) on Friday, October 11, 2026, stating, ‘No country has any grounds to invoke the enemy state clauses anymore,’ and pledging to continue urging relevant countries to remove them.
In response, China exercised its right of reply during the final day of the UN General Assembly’s General Debate, claiming Japan’s remilitarization threatens world peace. North Korea accused Japan of accelerating its transformation into a warring state. Japan countered twice, pointing to the 1995 and 2005 resolutions supported by China and other nations, and asserting that it has confronted historical facts in good faith.
Government sources indicated the criticism from China, Russia, and North Korea aims to check Japan’s growing defense capabilities and create regional divisions. After reshuffling her Cabinet, Takaichi instructed ministers to strengthen external communications on historical perception issues.
The National Intelligence Bureau, established in July 2026, plans to monitor foreign influence operations exploiting historical narratives and develop countermeasures. The situation underscores the complex interplay between historical legacies and contemporary geopolitical strategies. As Takaichi continues to push for the removal of the clauses, the response from key nations will be closely watched for signs of further escalation or compromise.
