Japan PM calls for removal of UN Charter 'enemy state' clauses, risking friction with China

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has called for the removal of World War II-era "enemy state" clauses from the United Nations Charter, according to Kyodo News.

The proposal notably touches on a set of provisions that China wants to preserve, at a time when relations between the two Asian neighbors are becoming increasingly tense.

The Japanese prime minister's decision to raise the issue at a United Nations forum shows Tokyo is seeking to push for changes to a long-standing part of the Charter, while Beijing opposes the move.

The development comes as Japan-China relations have already deteriorated, making the proposal all the more sensitive and potentially further affecting ties between the two countries.