China and Japan clash over UN Charter’s ‘enemy state’ clause
China and Japan have been engaged in a fierce diplomatic feud over provisions in the UN Charter that allow for actions against former Axis powers without requiring Security Council approval. This has led to a growing tension between the two nations as China has accused Japan of being a resurgence of militarism and has warned Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi against any military involvement in the ongoing dispute over Taiwan.
The issue escalated after Takaichi made public remarks supporting the self-governing administration on Taiwan, which were interpreted by China as an indication that Japan could be involved in a cross-strait conflict. In response, the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo published an excerpt from the UN Charter that refers to ‘enemy states’—countries that fought against the Allied Powers during World War II. Article 53 of the Charter allows for regional enforcement measures against such states in the event of a ‘renewal of aggressive policy,’ without prior approval from the UN Security Council.
China then lodged an official complaint with the UN, urging Japan, as a defeated country in World War II, to ‘reflect on its historical crimes’ and change its stance on the Taiwan issue. Japan’s Foreign Ministry firmly dismissed this argument, accusing China of misinterpreting ‘obsolete clauses’ that no longer align with UN practice. While the UN General Assembly recommended removing the ‘enemy state’ references in 1995, the formal amendment process was never completed.
In a related development, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited a military base on Yonaguni, an island about 110km east of Taiwan, and reiterated plans to deploy medium-range surface-to-air missiles there as part of a broader build-up on Japan’s southern island chain. This military move has further exacerbated the tensions between the two nations.
Russia has also been at odds with Japan, with whom it still has no formal peace treaty. Tokyo continues to insist on its claim to the four southernmost Kuril Islands, known in Japan as the ‘northern territories,’ which became part of the USSR after World War II and remain a long-standing focal point for Japanese nationalists.
The ongoing diplomatic and military posturing between China and Japan highlights the complex geopolitical landscape in East Asia, with the potential for further escalation if the issue remains unresolved.