EDITORIAL | Protect Chinese Citizens in Japan from Beijing's Threats

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A survey shows how China's government is exerting pressure on Chinese people in Japan. The international NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) released the survey results on October 9. It focuses on Chinese nationals who have taken part in activities and protests critical of the Chinese government.

HRW documents the human rights violations against Chinese nationals. Among the victims are people from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Tibet, Inner Mongolia, and Hong Kong. The NGO conducted the interviews between June and August 2024. Of the 25 people who had protested against the Chinese government's human rights crackdown or openly shared their ethnic culture, 16 testified that Chinese authorities subsequently tried to pressure them.

Some also related how the police in China got their relatives to beg them to halt their activism in Japan. One described speaking on the phone with relatives back home when Chinese police broke in on the conversation with threats. "We can't guarantee what might happen to your family [if you don't return from Japan]," the authority said.

In an additional incident, the Chinese embassy in Japan threatened a Tibetan that if he did not return to Tibet, his passport also would not be renewed.

human rights — Peace March at Tokyo Ginza street by people from Myanmar, Cambodia, Iran, Ukraine, Belarus, Tibet, Uyghur, Southern Mongolia, Taiwan, and also Hong Kong, China, and Japan. December 10, 2022. (Photo courtesy of FB/ MI & FF)

Free Speech is Guaranteed in Japan

Japan is a democratic country where free speech is guaranteed. No matter what country a person living here hails from, he or she is entitled to speak freely.

If the results of the Human Rights Watch survey are accurate, the pressure being exerted on Chinese citizens residing in Japan constitutes a violation of their human rights. Some of these cases might also violate Japan's sovereignty.

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and police must investigate the situation. If the allegations are confirmed, they must furthermore put an end to the Chinese government's unjust actions. Japan must not tolerate behavior that tramples on the values that this country holds dear.

Human Rights Watch has called on the Japanese government to convey to the Chinese government in no uncertain terms that it will not tolerate transnational repression. And that it will not allow China to stifle dissent and violate human rights.

If this problem is left unaddressed, it will certainly affect Japan's credibility in the international community. And indifference to the problem also indirectly contributes to the suppression of human rights.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's Public Security Department searched this building in Tokyo's Chiyoda ward in May 2023 as one of China's "overseas police stations." (@Sankei by Masanori Hashimoto)

Chinese Police Stations

China's foreign ministry claims that it has never engaged in transnational repression. Nevertheless, similar Chinese activity has been reported in other countries as well.

In fact, China has been conducting "clandestine overseas police" activities. It has also set up public security offices overseas to detain Chinese nationals abroad and force them to return home.

Furthermore, the activities of these "clandestine overseas police" clearly violate the sovereignty of the nations where they take place. In addition, operations have already been exposed and ordered closed down in the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, and elsewhere.

Tragically, several of the individuals interviewed by Human Rights Watch said that they hadn't asked Japanese authorities for assistance. Their reason? They did not think that they would receive any help from the Japanese police.

Moreover, the Japanese government should be ashamed of this sad situation. Japan must remain a champion of liberty.