THE United States, which long served as the guardian of order in the postwar international community, has now resorted to rule by force. This situation, in which major powers including China and Russia are disrespecting international law, is extremely dangerous.

Standing by and doing nothing to address the current situation could cause the world to regress to the imperialist era, in which the weak were victims of the strong. Japan’s respect for norms and its moral sensibilities have long been highly regarded internationally. It is time for Japan to leverage the trust it has earned and to work toward rebuilding order and restoring peace.

Japan is marking the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II. It is a day to renew the commitment to peace. Many lives were lost because of misguided national policy that led to the start of a reckless war. Remorse for that must not be allowed to fade.

While the ceremony remains unchanged, the international situation has shifted dramatically. US President Donald Trump’s administration has launched a unilateral attack on Iran alongside Israel, citing the objective of stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The fighting continues to this day, with no end in sight.

The fact that the United States and Iran are both threatening the security of the Strait of Hormuz — a strategic choke point for energy shipments — is also causing turmoil in the global economy.

Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has dragged on for 4½ years. The civilian death toll is incalculable. Beijing is intensifying its military expansion on the seas. It maintains its stance of not ruling out the use of force to unify Taiwan with China. It uses the economy as a weapon, coercing nations that do not comply with its demands through such means as restricting exports of critical minerals to those countries.

The postwar order, which maintained the rule of law to a certain extent and made major powers abide by international law, is collapsing. The world has entered a new era of crisis due to the high-handed acts of major powers.

Based on the lessons of the two world wars in the 20th century, the United Nations was founded under the leadership of the United States — a victor in World War II — and others. The UN Charter stipulates respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and says disputes must be settled peacefully.

However, the United Nations has become dysfunctional because UN Security Council permanent members, who are responsible for world peace, have openly violated the Charter — specifically two major powers: the United States and Russia.

That said, one cannot simply lament the organisation’s powerlessness. For the time being, the United Nations remains the only international framework that can potentially move major powers. Japan, which has benefited from the rule of law and free trade, must take the lead in rebuilding the United Nations.

Although they are not legally binding, UN General Assembly resolutions carry significant weight. It is important for Japan to assemble member states seeking peace and stability and to arouse international public opinion to deter major powers from acting selfishly.

From this point of view, it cannot be said that the diplomatic efforts made so far by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Cabinet have been sufficient. It is commendable that Takaichi has actively held summits with her US and South Korean counterparts since taking office last October, working to strengthen the Japan-US alliance and improve Japan-South Korea relations.

Takaichi is also updating the free and open Indo-Pacific vision and seeking to deepen cooperation with relevant countries in areas such as energy security. However, she missed an opportunity to attend an international conference due to changes in the Diet schedule. More efforts should be invested in restoring multilateral coordination.

Even 81 years after the end of World War II, many issues remain unsettled. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently visited Etorofu Island in the northern territories for the first time, an unacceptable act. Russia still illegally occupies the northern territories — which are Japanese territories both historically and by international law — and is proceeding with the military use of the territories.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2026