Shunji Yanai

{{Short description|Japanese politician}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Shunji Yanai

| native_name = 柳井 俊二

| native_name_lang = ja

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Shunji Yanai - Flickr image 8670740315.jpg

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| ambassador_from = Japanese

| country = United States

| term_start = 1999

| term_end = 2001

| predecessor = Kunihiko Saitō

| successor = Ryōzō Katō

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1937|1|15}}

| birth_place = Tokio

| death_date =

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| nationality = Japanese

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}}

Shunji Yanai ({{langx|ja|柳井 俊二}}) (born 15 January 1937 in Tokio[https://www.itlos.org/en/main/the-tribunal/members/judge-shunji-yanai/ ITLOS profile] (access: 7 September 2022).) is a Japanese politician who served as ambassador to the United States from 1999 until 2001.

Yanai entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1961, and studied at the University of Strasbourg while in France.{{cite book |last1=Gong |first1=Gerrit W. |title=Memory and History in East and Southeast Asia: Issues of Identity in International Relations |date=2001 |publisher=Center for Strategic and International Studies |isbn=978-0-89206-399-4 |page=[https://archive.org/details/memoryhistoryine00gerr/page/191 191] |url=https://archive.org/details/memoryhistoryine00gerr |url-access=registration |accessdate=3 December 2019 |language=en}} He was director of the Treaties Bureau during 1991.{{cite news |title=Former Japanese leader urges his country to reverse claim on forced labor |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20190829000663 |accessdate=3 December 2019 |work=Korea Herald |agency=Yonhap News Agency |date=29 August 2019 |language=en}}

He served as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1997 until 1999.{{cite news |title=Veteran Japanese diplomat elected as head of UN-backed sea court |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2011/10/390282-veteran-japanese-diplomat-elected-head-un-backed-sea-court |accessdate=3 December 2019 |work=UN News |date=3 October 2011 |language=en}} He then became ambassador to the United States, and served in the position until 2001. He was removed from his post due to a scandal involving bureaucrats in the Foreign Ministry.{{cite news |title=Tanaka gives in to Koizumi; U.S. envoy to be removed |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2001/08/03/national/tanaka-gives-in-to-koizumi-u-s-envoy-to-be-removed |accessdate=4 December 2019 |work=The Japan Times |date=3 August 2001}}

In 2005, he became a judge in the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLS). On 1 October 2011, he was elected to succeed José Luís Jesus as President of the ITLS for a three-year term.

As part of its strategy of not recognizing the Philippines v. China case, China accused him of manipulating the tribunal's composition.{{cite book |last1=Cai |first1=Congyan |title=The Rise of China and International Law: Taking Chinese Exceptionalism Seriously |date=2019 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-007360-2 |page=313 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7F-pDwAAQBAJ |accessdate=3 December 2019 |language=en}}

He headed an advisory panel on Japanese self-defence during both of Shinzō Abe's terms as prime minister.{{cite news |last1=Mie |first1=Ayako |title=Abe presses ahead on collective self-defense |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/02/07/national/politics-diplomacy/abe-presses-ahead-on-collective-self-defense/#.XebpB252tPY |accessdate=3 December 2019 |work=The Japan Times |date=7 February 2013}} The panel consisted of thirteen security experts,{{cite news |last1=Aoki |first1=Mizuho |title=Clearing way for wider military role |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/19/reference/clearing-way-for-wider-military-role/#.XebrF252tPY |accessdate=3 December 2019 |work=The Japan Times |date=19 August 2013}} and was concerned with amendments to Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution.{{cite news |last1=Boyle |first1=Christina |title=Shinzo Abe Eyes End to Pacifist Japan's Ban on Overseas Combat |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/shinzo-abe-eyes-end-pacifist-japans-ban-overseas-combat-n106201 |accessdate=3 December 2019 |work=NBC News |agency=Reuters |date=15 May 2014 |language=en}}