TOKYO: Japan’s parliament on Tuesday handed a uncommon resolution expressing concern about rights issues in China, together with the therapy of its Uyghur Muslim inhabitants and town of Hong Kong, days earlier than the Beijing Olympics open.

The wording of the resolution proposed by a bipartisan group was reportedly watered down after prolonged discussions, avoiding straight accusing Beijing of rights abuses.

However it comes at a time of elevated focus on China’s rights document because the nation prepares to host the Beijing Winter Olympics this month.

Tokyo has sought to stroll a cautious line in its strategy to China, balancing the strain put on Beijing by shut ally Washington. America and China are Japan’s largest buying and selling companions.

A majority vote within the decrease home accredited the resolution, which expresses “serious concerns over the human rights situations” in China’s Xinjiang area, Tibet, Hong Kong and Interior Mongolia.

The resolution additionally calls on Japan’s authorities to interact constructively on rights issues in China.

In response, Beijing slammed the resolution as a “serious political provocation”.

The resolution “grossly interferes in China’s internal affairs,” mentioned overseas ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, including that “China reserves the right to take further measures”.

China has lengthy denied accusations over its therapy of Uyghurs and different principally Muslim Turkic individuals, together with a US allegation it dedicated genocide.

Consultants have estimated that multiple million persons are incarcerated in camps within the Xinjiang area house to the minority.

Likewise, Beijing has denied claims that Tibetans reside below strict surveillance with the specter of jail or abuse for any indicators of a non-Chinese language id, together with possessing photos of the Dalai Lama — their exiled religious chief.

On Hong Kong, Japan has repeatedly expressed “grave concerns” over the previous British colony’s electoral system as China ramped up management of the monetary hub, prompting large pro-democracy protests.

In December final yr, Japan mentioned it could not ship authorities representatives to the Beijing Olympics because it known as on China to respect human rights and the rule of regulation.

The transfer got here after america, Britain, Australia and Canada introduced diplomatic boycotts of the Video games over what they contemplate to be widespread rights abuses by China.

Their boycott stops wanting not sending athletes to the Winter Video games, which begin on February 4.

However Beijing has warned the 4 Western nations would “pay the price” for the US-led marketing campaign.

Japan, which hosted the virus-postponed Tokyo Olympics final yr, is sending Tokyo 2020 chief Seiko Hashimoto and Japanese Olympic Committee head Yasuhiro Yamashita to the Beijing opening ceremony