Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi underscored the vital position of the International Criminal Court (ICC) during a recorded address to Asian and African representatives in Tokyo.
Delivering a message to launch the ministry’s Tokyo International Law Seminar, Motegi focused on reinforcing global judicial systems and maintaining global governance. However, his address bypassed the recent penalties imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration on ICC President Tomoko Akane, a Japanese national.
Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not specify when the recording was produced.
In his message, Motegi affirmed Tokyo’s dedication to supporting global legal bodies.
“Japan attaches great importance to the role of international judicial institutions in the peaceful settlement of disputes and the maintenance of legal order, and has been actively engaged in strengthening these institutions,” he said.
He pointed to the prominent roles played by Japanese jurists on the world stage as evidence of that continuous engagement.
“Our collective efforts are reflected in the presidency of both the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court being held by Japanese judges,” Motegi added.
The foreign minister cautioned that global governance structures are encountering growing pressures from various fronts.
“As the international order that we have built is under an array of challenges, we are living in a critically important era that will determine whether the international community as a whole can defend a free and open international order based on the rule of law,” he noted.
The foreign ministry’s weeklong seminar serves as a legal training initiative, featuring presentations from international legal scholars and experts through Friday.