July 23, 2023

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

The U.S. government on July 20 announced that Ukraine is using U.S.-provided cluster munitions in combatting Russia. Russian President Putin in response hinted at a counterattack using cluster munitions in retaliation.

The Convention on Cluster Munitions was concluded in Oslo, Norway in 2008. It prohibits all production, stockpiling, use, and transfer of these weapons. More than 110 countries, including Japan and a majority of NATO member states, signed and ratified the treaty. The United States, Russia, and Ukraine are not signatories.

Cluster munitions are weapons which are banned by the international treaty as they can indiscriminately kill and maim people even long after a conflict ends. Therefore, regardless of whether they are signatories to the Oslo agreement, no country can justify the use of such weapons.

The U.K., Canada, and Spain which are NATO members expressed opposition to the U.S. provision of cluster munitions to Ukraine. In contrast, as Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno said on July 10 at a press conference, Japan is supportive of the U.S. decision.

Use of the forbidden weapons will only further fuel the war. Ukraine's use of U.S.-supplied cluster munitions is undermining global efforts attempting to influence the two countries to comply with international humanitarian law. Not only that, Ukraine may lose the support of the international community in continuing to denounce Russia's invasion of Ukraine.