December 1, 2022

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on November 30 expressed concern over China's crackdown on civil protests.

Civil protests against the authorities' zero-COVID policy are spreading in China's major cities, including Beijing and Shanghai. Police crackdowns and the government's web censorship are reported to be increasing.

Shii sent the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo a letter expressing his concern about China's repressive, high-handed response to civil demonstrations.

In the letter, Shii demanded that the Chinese government abide by international agreements on human rights such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights, and the Vienna Declaration which China itself agrees with. He also demanded that China respond verbally to the peaceful expression of opinions.