Japan MPs push for Hong Kong sanctions bill in wake of national security law

The proposed bill enjoys cross-party support and is similar in scope to one introduced by the United States Congress in November

Questions have been raised about Japan’s ability to enforce sanctions, however, amid suggestions any resulting law would largely be symbolic

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People in Tokyo take part in a protest against China on July 12, following the introduction of the national security law for Hong Kong. Photo: DPA

Published: 8:00am, 2 Aug 2020Updated: 4:46pm, 12 Aug 2020

Japanese politicians from across the political spectrum have set up a group to discuss a bill that would impose sanctions on foreign individuals and organisations that have committed human rights abuses, with particular attention being paid to Hong Kong.

The group held its first meeting on Wednesday, with 30 politicians from both the upper and lower houses of Japan’s Diet attending – many of whom said there was a need to be able to sanction China in the aftermath of the introduction of Hong Kong’s new national security law.

“I am a lawyer and I have been watching what has been going on in Hong Kong very carefully and I can say that what I see there is very worrying,” said Shiori Yamao, who jointly leads the new group and is a member of the opposition Democratic Party for the People, a centre-right party that is currently the second-largest in the Diet.

“I’m very optimistic that the bill that we hope to propose can eventually become law,” she told This Week In Asia . “And that is important because this is taking place right next to Japan.”

05:50

What you should know about China's new national security law for Hong Kong

The bill proposes giving Diet members the right to demand the executive branch open an investigation into cases in which human rights abuses are suspected. Should the investigation confirm that abuses have taken place, then the Japanese government will have the authority under the bill to sanction individuals or organisations involved by freezing their assets held in Japan, refusing entry into the country or ordering that they be deported.

Japan MPs push for Hong Kong sanctions bill in wake of national security law

The proposed bill enjoys cross-party support and is similar in scope to one introduced by the United States Congress in November Questions have been raised about Japan’s ability to enforce sanctions, however, amid suggestions any resulting law would largely be symbolic

The proposed bill enjoys cross-party support and is similar in scope to one introduced by the United States Congress in November

Questions have been raised about Japan’s ability to enforce sanctions, however, amid suggestions any resulting law would largely be symbolic