Kishida Appoints Former Defense Minister as Prime Minister's Advisor Targeting China's Human Rights Issues

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has appointed former Defense Minister Gen Nakatani as a special advisor to the Prime Minister responsible for issues including China's human rights abuses against Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

According to Kyodo News and others on the 8th, Prime Minister Kishida met with former Defense Minister Nakatani at the Prime Minister's Office and announced this appointment, then instructed efforts to promote international human rights in cooperation with allies such as the United States.

Nakatani, a member of the House of Representatives for 11 terms, later told reporters at the Prime Minister's Office, "I will do my best to provide appropriate advice (to the Prime Minister) by utilizing my knowledge and experience so far."

Former Defense Minister Nakatani was appointed Defense Minister during the second Abe Shinzo administration and also served as chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's Security Council. He also founded and co-chaired the parliamentary group "Bipartisan Parliamentary League Considering Human Rights Diplomacy," which addressed China's human rights issues.

Prime Minister Kishida pledged during the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election in September last year to establish a human rights advisor position to respond to issues such as China's human rights problems.

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