Arfiya Eri, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, at the National Diet. (©Sankei by Shimpei Okuhara)
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Arfiya Eri, a Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs from the Liberal Democratic Party, has been repeatedly targeted by Chinese state media. Eri's parents are originally from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and she became a Japanese citizen in 1999.
The attacks appear to be a response to her outspoken criticism of the Chinese Communist Party's treatment of Uyghurs and its human rights record in Hong Kong. Some media outlets have gone so far as to describe her as a "toxin."
On April 5, US government-funded Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported that Eri's grandmother, in her 80s, had been interrogated by Chinese authorities in Xinjiang. Eri later posted on X that, based on available information, her grandmother was not currently detained, but she would continue to monitor the situation closely.
According to the report, Eri's grandmother traveled to Japan in 2013 for medical treatment and had been advised to return for a checkup every ten years. She had already been prevented from traveling on two previous occasions, and even while preparing for a recent trip with a valid visa, she was repeatedly questioned by authorities. Eri's activities in Japan were reportedly raised during the interrogations.
Political Career and Human Rights Work
Eri was first appointed as vice minister under former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and was reappointed when Sanae Takaichi took office. Some commentators describe her as a key figure in Japan's pushback against China.
While studying at Georgetown University, Eri wrote her thesis on the human rights situation of the Uyghurs. After working for the United Nations and winning a seat in the Lower House in April 2023, she has made human rights diplomacy a central focus of her work.
Chinese Media Attacks
On February 27, the Chinese news site Sina.com published a report attacking Eri, citing her background and accusing her of using "her own identity as a shield" to criticize China over the Uyghur issue. The article also questioned Prime Minister Takaichi's decision to appoint her, asking, "What exactly is she plotting?"
The report further claimed that Eri aimed "to gain support from conservative forces" by stirring controversy over the Uyghur issue and criticizing China. It also criticized her comments on human rights situation in Hong Kong, including restrictions under the National Security Law, labeling her political stance as "vile."
The Beijing-backed Global Times, affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper People's Daily, released a video calling Eri a "toxin" within the Takaichi cabinet. Posted on TikTok, the video received more than 20,000 likes within five days.
In response to these attacks, Eri wrote on X: "Cross-border oppression should never be tolerated anywhere. I stand in solidarity with Uyghur people around the world who go through each day thinking of their family members who are detained. As a member of Japan's House of Representatives, I will continue to engage sincerely with global human rights issues."
At a press conference on March 4, Japanese Foreign Ministry press secretary Toshihiro Kitamura condemned the attacks on Eri's background as "extremely inappropriate and a matter of strong concern," and confirmed that Japan had raised the issue with China through diplomatic channels.
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Author: The Sankei Shimbun
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