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UK lawmakers demand action over China’s alleged Xinjiang abuses

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A group of British lawmakers urged the government to take tougher action against China on Thursday over its treatment of minority groups, including a partial Winter Olympics boycott and cotton trade ban.

In a report following a months-long inquiry, parliament’s foreign affairs committee recommended exploring the feasibility of an International Criminal Court probe into the alleged crimes against Uyghur Muslims and others in the northwestern Chinese region of Xinjiang.

It also called on the government to accept MPs’ view — expressed in a symbolic April vote — that minority groups there are suffering genocide and crimes against humanity, and take stronger action “to bring these crimes to an end”.

The cross-party group wants Britain to use every diplomatic lever to pressure Beijing to allow international observers — in particular the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights — access to Xinjiang.

It also backs a fast-track asylum process for those fleeing persecution in the region, forming a coalition of “sanctuary states” with Western allies.

“It’s time for big boy politics,” committee member Alicia Kearns said ahead of the report’s release.

“We are the mother of all parliaments. If we are not willing to speak up for those who others seek to silence, then what parliament’s going to do it?”

Rights groups believe at least one million Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim minorities have been incarcerated in camps in Xinjiang, where China is also accused of forcibly sterilising women and imposing forced labour.

Beijing has denied all allegations of abuses and has insisted its policies in Xinjiang are necessary to counter violent extremism.

‘Nesting the dragon’

But in their 37-page report — “Never Again: The UK’s Responsibility to Act on Atrocities in Xinjiang and Beyond” — the British MPs argue the “truly horrifying” crimes taking place are “an international call to action”.

Among the raft of recommended responses, it urges Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government to ensure that Beijing “faces consequences” when it hosts the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The committee wants ministers and dignitaries to skip the opening and closing ceremonies, discourage British businesses from sponsoring or advertising at the event, and encourage fans and tourists to stay away.

Asked about such possible moves, Johnson said Wednesday he would consider the calls but was “instinctively” against sporting boycotts.

Meanwhile the report urges the government to explore a ban on the import of all cotton products linked to Xinjiang, which supplies the vast majority of China’s cotton.

It also wants surveillance companies like Hikvision — which provide surveillance equipment to the detention camps there — to be forbidden from operating in Britain.

The United States, which has accused Beijing of genocide in Xinjiang, has already imposed various trade sanctions targeting producers and users of cotton as well as tomato products and hair products such as weaves originating from the region.

Last month it also banned imports of solar panel materials from a Chinese company and placing restrictions on four others for alleged use of forced labour in Xinjiang.

“We still have time to make these choices, and if we choose not to, what we’re doing is nesting the dragon deeper and deeper into our national life,” committee chair Tom Tugendhat said.

— AFP

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China

Tragic stabbing of Japanese boy in Shenzhen sparks concerns over Sino-Japanese relations

A 10-year-old Japanese boy died after being stabbed in Shenzhen on 18 September, raising fears about strained Sino-Japanese relations. The attacker, a 44-year-old man, was apprehended. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the act, urging Beijing for swift information. This incident follows previous attacks on Japanese nationals, heightening concerns for their safety in China.

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CHINA: A 10-year-old boy, a dual citizen of Japan and China, succumbed to injuries after being stabbed while on his way to school in Shenzhen on Wednesday (18 September) morning.

The incident has raised alarms within the Japanese community in China and could further strain already tense Sino-Japanese relations.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the boy was attacked in the abdomen near a Japanese school and was transported to a hospital for emergency treatment.

Despite efforts to save him, he died of his wounds early Thursday.

The assailant, a 44-year-old man, was arrested by police near the scene.

The motivations behind the attack remain unclear, and it is uncertain whether the boy was specifically targeted due to his nationality.

A local Japanese businessman expressed concerns for the safety of the community, advising vigilance and caution when speaking Japanese in public spaces.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the stabbing as an “extremely despicable crime” and called for prompt information sharing from Beijing regarding the investigation.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry, represented by spokesman Lin Jian, expressed condolences and emphasized the commitment to protecting foreign nationals in China.

Lin noted that such incidents could occur in any country and downplayed the potential impact on bilateral exchanges.

Eyewitness accounts described the chaotic scene, with the boy receiving immediate medical attention from passersby.

His mother was present during the attack.

This incident follows a similar knife attack in Suzhou in June, which left a Japanese mother and child injured.

In response to both attacks, Japanese officials have reiterated their demand for enhanced safety measures for their nationals in China.

Wednesday also marked the 93rd anniversary of a significant historical event—Japan’s bombing of a railroad track near Shenyang, which contributed to the Manchurian Incident and subsequent occupation of northeastern China during World War II.

In light of this, Japan had previously requested the Chinese government to bolster security at Japanese schools.

In mourning, Japan’s Ambassador to China, Kenji Kanasugi, ordered the national flag at the embassy to be flown at half-staff and planned to visit Shenzhen to meet the victim’s family.

The Japanese consulate in Guangzhou reported that local government officials had also extended their condolences.

Community responses in Shenzhen reflected a mix of shock and sorrow, with residents leaving flowers at the entrance of the Japanese school.

One local expressed shame over the incident as a Chinese national, while another voiced concern over the implications for Sino-Japanese relations.

As diplomatic tensions have already been heightened by issues such as espionage allegations against Japanese nationals and trade disputes, including a ban on Japanese seafood following the Fukushima disaster, this tragic event may exacerbate existing challenges.

The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China has urged both governments to ensure the safety of Japanese citizens and seek clarity on the incident.

The investigation into the stabbing continues, with officials pledging to hold the perpetrator accountable under Chinese law.

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Animals

Panda knocks down zookeeper in Chongqing zoo, both unharmed

A panda named Ding Ding knocked down a zookeeper at Chongqing Zoo on 19 September, sparking concern after a video surfaced online. Both the caretaker and the panda were unharmed, and the zoo has continued normal operations.

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CHINA: On Thursday (19 September), a social media user shared a video showing a giant panda named Ding Ding (丁丁) knocking down a zookeeper at Chongqing Zoo.

In response to inquiries, zoo staff confirmed that both the zookeeper and the 9-year-old panda were unharmed and that Ding Ding continues to be exhibited as usual.

The video, circulated on Chinese social media platform Weibo, shows a zookeeper noticing that Ding Ding was attempting to escape through a partially open gate. The zookeeper rushed to close the gate, which produced a loud noise.

However, the gate wasn’t fully secured, and Ding Ding can be seen trying to open it again.

Visitors alerted the zookeeper, who rushed back to shut the gate.

This action seemingly agitated the panda, who then turned its attention toward the zookeeper.

During a brief chase, Ding Ding knocked down the zookeeper.

In the footage, some visitors can be heard advising others to stay calm and avoid shouting.

This is not the first such incident at the zoo.

In April 2024, another panda knocked over another zookeeper.

The zoo’s management reported that on 23 April, at around 2:00 PM, a zookeeper was guiding two pandas, Yu Ke (渝可) and Yu Ai (渝爱), to a feeding area when they chased and knocked the zookeeper down.

Fortunately, neither the zookeeper nor the pandas were injured.

Following that event, the zoo held a safety meeting and implemented stricter feeding protocols to prevent similar incidents.

Chongqing Zoo is home to 23 giant pandas.

According to Chongqing Daily, the panda enclosure, which has undergone three rounds of expansion and renovation, now covers nearly 20,000 square meters and is one of the earliest panda breeding centers in China.

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