Japan parliament passes resolution on human rights in China, expressing concern over Xinjiang, Hong Kong days before Beijing Winter Olympics
- The motion, adopted by the lower chamber, stopped short of naming China, but expressed concern about ‘serious human rights situation’ in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong
- It also called on the Japanese government to work with the international community in addressing the issue
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“Human rights issues cannot just be domestic issues, because human rights hold universal values and are a rightful matter of concern for the international community,” the resolution said.
“This chamber recognises changes to the status quo with force, which are symbolised by the serious human rights situation, as a threat to the international community,” it said.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian bitterly criticised on Tuesday the resolution as “extremely vile in nature,” and alleged it interferes with Beijing’s internal affairs.
“This is a severe political provocation against the Chinese people,” he added.
Noting World War II Japan’s aggression and atrocities, Zhao said that Tokyo “has no authority whatsoever to make wanton remarks about other countries’ human rights conditions.”
The conservative wing of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) sought the adoption of the resolution ahead of the February 4 opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics although there were worries in the government about a potential economic impact, Jiji news agency has said.
There have long been competing views within the LDP about the approach to China. The party’s more conservative wing is hawkish on China policy and seen as concerned primarily with defence issues. Other members of the party have pushed to preserve Japan’s deep economic ties with its neighbour.
The parliamentary resolution called on the Japanese government to work with the international community in addressing the issue.
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“The government should collect information to grasp the whole picture …, monitor the serious human right situation in cooperation with the international community, and implement comprehensive relieving measures,” it said.
The resolution did not directly use the word “China” anywhere in the text, and steered clear of such expression as “human rights violation”, saying, instead, “human rights situation”, in a possible nod to close bilateral economic ties.
Japan relies on China not only as a manufacturing hub, but also as a market for items from automobiles to construction equipment.
Additional reporting by Associated Press