China and Japan Clash Over UN Charter’s ‘Enemy State’ Clause
The foreign ministries of China and Japan have engaged in a diplomatic dispute over provisions in the United Nations Charter that pertain to former Axis powers. China has issued warnings to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding potential military intervention in the Taiwan dispute, citing UN Charter Article 53, which permits regional enforcement measures against former Axis powers without Security Council authorization. Japan has rebuked China’s interpretation of these provisions, asserting that the clause is outdated and no longer relevant to current international practices. This dispute has intensified as Japan’s new government, led by Takaichi, has taken a more assertive stance on Taiwan, raising concerns in Beijing about potential Japanese military involvement in cross-strait conflicts.