Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has urged the United Nations to revise its Charter by removing references to "enemy states," a term rooted in World War II that has sparked renewed debate amid rising tensions between Japan and China. Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, Takaichi said the 81-year-old document needs updating, stating that "reform of the United Nations is essential." She referenced a 2005 UN resolution that called for the removal of these references, which are found in Articles 53, 77, and 107 of the Charter. These clauses originally referred to countries that had fought against the Allies during the war, including Japan, Germany, and Italy, and outlined rules for handling "enemy states." Japan joined the UN in 1956, 11 years after its defeat in WWII. In 1995, the UN General Assembly declared the clauses outdated and expressed its intention to remove them, with world leaders reaffirming this goal in 2005. However, officially amending the UN Charter requires the support of two-thirds of the General Assembly and ratification by two-thirds of UN member states, including all five permanent members of the Security Council—China, Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. Takaichi emphasized that Japan is a "peace-loving nation" and highlighted its long-standing contributions to the UN, including its support for international judicial institutions. She also mentioned the recent creation of a government unit for peace mediation. This push for reform comes alongside Japan's broader efforts to increase its influence within the UN, including calls to modernize the Security Council’s structure, which Takaichi argued no longer reflects the current global landscape. China has criticized Takaichi’s remarks, expressing concerns about Japan’s evolving security policies and its comments on Taiwan. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun rejected Takaichi’s portrayal of Japan as a peaceful nation, stating that the "enemy states" clauses are a "vital institutional arrangement" to prevent a return to militarism. He accused Japan of denying its history of aggression and moving toward remilitarization, which he claims undermines the postwar international order. China has also linked Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan to its concerns about Japan’s expanding defense partnerships across the Indo-Pacific. Japan’s UN ambassador, Kazuyuki Yamazaki, defended the country’s military expansion, calling it a response to growing security threats. He criticized critics of Japan’s defense policies, particularly those from countries engaged in their own military activities, as hypocritical. This exchange underscores the broader geopolitical tensions between Japan and China, particularly over regional security and historical memory.