Japan Is Still an “Enemy State” in the UN Charter
2026-09-23
Japan joined the United Nations in 1956. Seventy years later, the UN Charter still contains clauses referring to “enemy states” of World War II. Under the Charter’s definition, Japan is one of them. The text does not name Japan, but the meaning is clear.
Japan Is Still an “Enemy State” in the UN Charter. It’s Time to Change That.
Japan joined the United Nations in 1956. Seventy years later, the UN Charter still contains clauses referring to “enemy states” of World War II. Under the Charter’s definition, Japan is one of them. The text does not name Japan, but the meaning is clear.
For years, it was easy to dismiss those words as a relic of history. That became harder on September 2, 2026, when a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson explicitly cited Articles 53, 77, and 107 in criticizing Japan. China is using language left in the Charter to make an argument about Japan today.
I am not asking anyone to forget what Japan did during World War II. History must be taught honestly. But acknowledging history does not require the founding document of the United Nations to preserve an outdated label indefinitely.
The UN has already recognized these clauses as obsolete and expressed an intention to remove them. Yet the words remain. As China’s statement shows, words that remain in a legal document can still be used, even when others consider them outdated.
Removing the clauses would not erase history or settle every disagreement between Japan and its neighbors. It would bring the Charter’s language into line with the world in which Japan is a UN member, not a country at war with its founders.
It is time to finish that change.
Removing the “enemy state” clauses requires the agreement of every permanent member of the Security Council, including China. As long as China insists these clauses remain relevant to Japan today, changing the Charter may be politically difficult. That is all the more reason to keep asking why language the UN has called obsolete remains in its founding document.
Disclaimer: I use AI as a tool to help create images and proofread my writing. However, the ideas, opinions, experiences, and messages in my posts are my own. AI does not generate my posts for me. It simply helps me present my own words and ideas more clearly.
Kenichi Uchikura
Founder & CEO
Pacific Software Publishing, Inc. (PSPINC)
Uchikura & Co., LLC.
..-･**･-....-･･-..__..-･･-....-･**･-..
ABOUT THIS BLOG
I was born and raised in Japan and have spent most of my adult life in the United States. Through this blog, I share Japanese culture, language, expressions, and wisdom. My goal is not to say one culture is better, but to explore different perspectives and what we can learn from them.
Your comments are always welcome.
..-･**･-....-･･-..__..-･･-....-･**･-..
Kenichi Uchikura
Founder & CEO
Pacific Software Publishing, Inc. (PSPINC)
Uchikura & Co., LLC.
..-･**･-....-･･-..__..-･･-....-･**･-..
ABOUT THIS BLOG
I was born and raised in Japan and have spent most of my adult life in the United States. Through this blog, I share Japanese culture, language, expressions, and wisdom. My goal is not to say one culture is better, but to explore different perspectives and what we can learn from them.
Your comments are always welcome.
..-･**･-....-･･-..__..-･･-....-･**･-..