Mon Sep 16 11:30:54 UTC 2024: ## Japan’s First Uyghur Lawmaker Calls for Tougher Stance on China
**Sydney, Australia:** Arfiya Eri, Japan’s first lawmaker of Uyghur heritage, has urged Tokyo to adopt a more assertive stance against China’s human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Eri, who was elected to the Japanese Diet in 2023, spoke at the Sydney Dialogue, advocating for stronger defense measures against Beijing’s growing military presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Eri’s call for action comes as Japan has historically pursued a cautious approach regarding China’s treatment of Uyghurs, balancing human rights concerns with its significant economic ties to China. While Japan has expressed concerns about human rights violations, it has refrained from imposing sanctions, opting for diplomatic dialogue instead.
However, Eri’s voice adds to growing international pressure on China to address the situation in Xinjiang, where Uyghurs have been subjected to extensive surveillance, detention in re-education camps, and alleged forced labor. The Chinese government has defended these measures as necessary to combat extremism, but they have been widely condemned as human rights abuses.
Eri’s advocacy highlights the ongoing debate within Japan about how to balance its economic interests with its commitment to human rights. Her background, with education in both China and the US, combined with experience at the Bank of Japan and the United Nations, lends weight to her call for a more active stance against China’s actions in Xinjiang.
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