Kadeer calls on Japan to pressure China on human rights

Rebiya Kadeer, the exiled leader of the World Uighur Congress, called on Tokyo to pressure Beijing on human rights and change its policy on ethnic minorities, the South China Morning Post reported. Kadeer made the comments as she arrived in Japan on Tuesday, October 20. The visit is her first to the country since Yukio Hatoyama became Japanese prime minister. Her visit drew fire from Beijing. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said that Kadeer had been invited to the country by Japanese elements that wanted to encourage separatism in China. The spokesman did not criticize Hatoyama, which indicates Beijing does not want the dispute to fester. China has generally welcomed Hatoyama’s arrival in power and his promises to improve ties with Beijing. But analysts have said any Japanese criticism of China’s human rights policies could become a sore point.