China Responds to Japan's Human Rights Criticism: "No Right Due to Atrocities of Aggression War"

Zhao Lijian, Spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] China has reacted strongly, calling it interference in internal affairs, after Japan adopted a resolution expressing concern over human rights issues in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.

According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website on the 2nd, spokesperson Zhao Lijian stated in a Q&A format that "the human rights resolution passed by the Japanese House of Representatives ignores facts and maliciously slanders China's human rights situation." He added, "This is a violent interference in China's internal affairs and is very bad in nature."

He referred to Japan's acts of aggression during World War II, saying, "Japan waged an aggressive war at that time and committed atrocities regarding human rights. It has no right to dictate the human rights situations of other countries."

Spokesperson Zhao added, "The fact that some Japanese politicians ignored China-Japan relations and pushed through the resolution is a serious political provocation."

The Chinese Embassy in Japan also criticized Japan's human rights issues by citing the decision to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant and stated that it has already lodged a stern protest.

In a statement, the embassy spokesperson said, "Japan has made a wrong decision to discharge contaminated water, violating various human rights such as the right to life and health of people in various countries," and "Japan still has serious human rights problems and has no right to comment on the situations of other countries."

The Japanese House of Representatives adopted the 'Resolution on the Serious Human Rights Situation in Xinjiang Uyghur and Others' the day before, with the support of many ruling and opposition party members.