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Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura reiterated on Sunday calls for China to increase transparency over Tibet, saying it was difficult to believe there was no suppression of human rights there.
Komura said greater transparency would help ease international suspicion about human rights abuses in the remote Himalyan region, where Beijing's crackdown on recent unrest has sparked foreign concern.
"There is a wide gap between what the side of the Dalai Lama is saying and what the Chinese side is saying. I think the truth is probably somewhere in the middle," Komura said.
"I find it impossible to believe there has been no suppression on human rights, or problems of human rights, at all. But there is no knowing how far it has gone," Komura told a Sunday program on Fuji TV.
"Unless they have transparency, it can't be helped that the world suspects the side in power is doing it (suppressing human rights)," he said.
Komura said earlier his month that he urged his Chinese counterpart during talks here to "increase transparency and stressed the importance of dialogue" to resolve the Tibetan problem.
But China's foreign minister rebuffed the call, saying he told Komura "that the Tibetan issue is China's domestic issue".
The largest protests in nearly 20 years broke out last month in Tibet against Beijing's controversial rule in the predominantly Buddhist region.
Tibetan leaders say the Chinese crackdown left more than 150 dead. Beijing says no one died as it restored order, but that Tibetan rioters killed 20 people.
China has repeatedly blamed people close to Tibet's spirirual leader, the Dalai Lama, for orchestrating the unrest, which it says is a deliberate attempt to sabotage the upcoming Beijing Olympics.
The Dalai Lama denies the charges and says he only wants "meaningful autonomy" for the Himalayan region to preserve Tibet's language, culture and environment within China, and does not seek independence.
China on Friday offered to hold fresh talks with a Dalai Lama envoy over the issue which threatens to overshadow the runup to the Games in August.
Komura also reiterated Japan has yet to decide whether to send anyone to the Olympic opening ceremony but confirmed it would not boycott it over the violence in Tibet.
"It's only France which has talked about the link" between the Tibet issue to attending the opening ceremony, he added.
Komura also said he was "grateful" to police for security during the Japanese leg of the Olympic torch relay on Saturday.
Protesters hurled rubbish and flares at the torch and brawled with Chinese supporters. Six people were arrested in scuffles during the run in Nagano, but they were neither Chinese nor Tibetan, the minister said.
© AFP
16 Comments
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GG2141
Japan must be loving this.
Finally an opportunity for Japan to make China feel uncomfortable about how it went about bringing a superior culture to the unwashed & inferior masses.
Sarge
It's clear that China has controlled Tibet since the Chinese People's Liberation Army "liberated" it in 1950.
some14some
"unwarranted and unwise" call by Japanese FM.
Shumatsu_Samurai
So you think the lies and deception from China are better?
Alfie_in_Tokyo
“There is a wide gap between what the side of the Dalai Lama is saying and what the Chinese side is saying. I think the truth is probably somewhere in the middle,” Komura said.
No, I think the situation is probably a lot more complicated than either the Dalai Lama or China are making it out to be.
OssanULTRA
Once again China doesn't listen to good advice. The CCP govt can be counted on to always repeat the standard "internal matter" line that nobody in the world believes and always take the wrong actions that put the position and China's image further down the scale.
farmerinus
OssanULTRA, I'd like to take some more time to educate you for your behalf. <BR>
Wether or not it's a 'good advice' is not defined by you or sb. doesn't know about the facts. <BR> 'China doesn't listen to good advice' is not true as far as I know. For example. Many people think the culture revolution is wrong and China admit that culture revolution is wrong. On the contrary, some countries like Japan wouldn't do that. China suffered from so many wars but would keep promoting peace. <BR> 'always repeat the standard "internal matter"'. It's because some 'dictator' country keep intervening other internal affairs. China has to keep reminding those country to mind your own business. <BR> 'nobody in the world believes' is not true. Many people in many countries believe. I believe too. <BR> Hope this helps.tclh
oldguo,people do not hate China or chinese culture like you think.People travel and spend money on China,people eat at chinese restaurants in the west,people buy things"made in China",people help China to develop and progress both in capitals and technology...What you said is ONLY ONE SIDE of a COIN,the other side of a coin is what I said:people love China;and also people love Tibet and its peaceful culture.The point is you live and you MUST let others live as well.
OssanULTRA
farmerinus
China's own actions prove that other nations have been offering "good advice". The current Tibet situation and the joke of a torch relay is proof that China doesn't listen to good advice. China promoting peace? Do you think the Tibetans, Indians and Vietnames would agree with that statement? China's "internal matter" response is an excuse, one which no one takes seriously anymore. But I agree that I am talking about the world outside of China. A great many within China who have no news souces other than state controlled media and Chinese outside of China who are drunk on nationalism and suppport the CCP because they themselves were not around to suffer at their hands in the past, belive anything that the Chinese govt says. No matter how absurd, wrong or ridiculous.Allow me to educate you about reality. The moment the tibet roits started the entire world told China to talk to the Dalai Lama to put this to rest as soon as possible before the Oympics. In it's usual hardheaded way the Chinese govt refused, instead villifying the Dalai Lama as a terrorist behind the violence. The Dalai Lama is known to the governments of many countries, despite China crying about it every time he visits anywhere. Nobody believes China's pathetic attempt to place the blame on the Dalai Lama. And now that China's arrgonant stubornness has resulted in demonstrations within China and outside, and China has single handedly fueled every fear, suspicion, prejudice and disdain that the West has for the Chinese dictatorship, now it claims to be ready to talk to the Dalai Lama. Too little too late because China is, despite it's economic boom and mass improvement, controlled by a backwards iron-fisted dictatorship. The Chinese should be proud that they're public toilets are no longer holes in the ground. But it takes alot more than that to become a nation accepted completely by the international community. I'm sure your news sources Xinhua and China Daily don't give you this perspective, but trust me, it's real. And finally if you're a farmerinus then i'm a pigfarmerinzhingguo. Hope this helps. One can always hope.
Terrikus
I generally agree with your post, but dont you find it somewhat ironic that you're claiming he doesn't get different perspectives despite the fact you're replying to him on a website that is giving different perspectives?
oldguo
Even Dalai admits that Tibet is part of China, check out maps published in 1700 and 1800 and see if Tibet is included in the China's territory.
Some of you are so ingnorant, dig out more facts before ranting.
Hikozaemon
oldguo - so you accept that the Chinese government is lying when it says that the Dalai Lama is a separatist?
Peace
Nessie
Hiko, touche.
OssanULTRA
"I generally agree with your post, but dont you find it somewhat ironic that you're claiming he doesn't get different perspectives despite the fact you're replying to him on a website that is giving different perspectives"
True. But if I admited that I would have to face the reality that I am addressing a person who knowingly and willingly made an educated and informed decision to support a Nationalist Socialist Dictatorship. And I would succumb to name-calling. Ah yes, the i is next to o. fait chier. My typo.
oldguo- Do you consider the Yuan Dynasty to be "China"?
Terrikus
Yes, well, I know the type. They're all over the place, but it mostly has to due with the lack of separation between government and nation. I don't often argue with pure nationalists. You won't get anywhere. It's why I thank God that my Chinese girlfriend makes her own informed opinions. She's had some of her friends tell her she doesn't love her country and she's a "foolish girl" for simply no other reason than telling her friends that she believed killing the Tibetan protesters was wrong. I told her she was more of a patriot. Go figure.
OssanULTRA
"She's had some of her friends tell her she doesn't love her country and she's a "foolish girl" for simply no other reason than telling her friends that she believed killing the Tibetan protesters was wrong. I told her she was more of a patriot. Go figure."
Not only is your GF more of a true Chinese Patriot but a better human being than those friends. Hats off to her. China needs more free-thinking individuals, than nationalists. The CCP's heavy handed way was fine in the begining but now it's time to move on. Back then they even promised the Chinese people a vote in selecting their governmentr "some day when they are ready". But of course, absolute power is something that's never given up easily. It's up to the hinese people to let them know that they are ready. For that China needs more free thinkers,less zombies.