January 8, 2021

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on January 7 protested against Hong Kong Police for arresting Hong Kong's pro-democracy activists en masse, and demanded their immediate release.

Shii made this statement after being asked by a member of the press corps in the Diet building to comment on the mass arrest of 53 pro-democracy activists, including Hong Kong ex-lawmakers, on the previous day.

He said, "They were arrested on a charge of violating the National Security Law. Their arrest, only because they held a preliminary election, shouldn't have taken place in a democratic country."

Shii continued to say, "Our party has protested to the Chinese government in regard to the Hong Kong issue. The Chinese authorities always say, 'This is a matter of internal politics,' but it's not. The framework of 'One country, Two systems' is a promise made by China to the international community, and what is happening in Hong Kong runs counter to international agreements on the protection of human rights which China itself agrees upon."

Shii called on the international community to press the Chinese leadership to comply with international law and stop committing human rights abuses.

Past related article:
> JCP criticizes disqualification of pro-democracy Hong Kong lawmakers [November 14, 2020]