As a legislature firmly committed to the constitutional principle of respecting basic human rights, the Diet has every reason to express concerns about alleged human rights violations in China.

But it should also understand that tackling the challenge posed by the behavior of Japan’s vast and rapidly rising neighbor represents a vital and complicated strategic question for this country. Tokyo needs to step up its efforts to enhance bilateral dialogue through expanded exchanges between lawmakers in both countries, with the aim of building a sturdy, multilayered relationship with China.

The Lower House on Feb. 1 adopted a resolution concerning “serious human rights conditions” in China’s far western Xinjiang Uighur autonomous region and other areas. The resolution also cited Tibet, Southern Mongolia (Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region) and Hong Kong as areas where human rights violations, such as denial of freedom of religion and internment, have occurred.

The resolution, although it did not refer to China by name, called for a convincing explanation of the situation that is acceptable to the international community. It also urged the Japanese government to collect information to grasp the situation in these areas and provide relief to victims, among other steps.

The resolution was jointly proposed by the Liberal Democratic Party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party), Komeito and the Democratic Party for the People with backing from the Japanese Communist Party. The resolution stopped short of naming China, and negotiations among the parties over the language of the document led to some changes to soften its tone. The original title included the word “criticizing,” but it was dropped, while the term “human rights violations” was changed to “human rights conditions.”

These changes were made in response to demands by Komeito, the LDP’s junior partner in the ruling coalition, which has enjoyed a historically close relationship with China. Komeito, for instance, played an important role in the normalization of bilateral diplomatic ties.

The Diet should not have softened its rhetoric. It should rather have been more outspoken in expressing its concerns while demonstrating its intention to make tenacious diplomatic efforts to ensure the situation in China improves.

Passage of the resolution was by no means unanimous due to opposition from Reiwa Shinsengumi and other blocs which criticized the revisions to make the document less confrontational. Critics viewed the resolution as half-hearted. But it nevertheless sent an unmistakable message to Chinese leaders.

China’s foreign ministry denounced the resolution, saying it “grossly interferes in China's internal affairs, and is extremely egregious in nature.”

Still, the onus is on China to sincerely respond to the international community’s criticism. Human rights are, after all, universal values.

Exchanges between Japanese and Chinese politicians have dwindled. The COVID-19 pandemic, which curtailed overseas trips, accelerated the trend.

Japanese lawmakers, of course, should not act as a mouthpiece for China. They should try to gain accurate and in-depth knowledge about what is happening in China so as to maintain effective channels of communication between the two countries. In this way, they can complement the government’s diplomatic efforts during an emergency. Diet members should play a more active diplomatic role in stemming the deterioration of the bilateral relationship.

The resolution argues that human rights issues are not simply a matter concerning the country’s internal affairs. In that case, Japan also needs to confront its own human rights issues. It should take to heart concerns raised about human rights problems in Japan voiced by organizations such as the U.N. Human Rights Council and the U.S. Department of State.

Serious problems exist over the treatment of foreign detainees at immigration control facilities in Japan. The nation also lacks an effective system to protect foreign workers.

There are also long-standing human rights issues that remain unsolved, including discrimination against a minority regarded in feudal times as outcasts.

Tokyo needs to improve its own human rights records to give credibility and legitimacy to its calls for the protection of human rights in other countries.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 3