Japan helped the United States and Britain put pressure on China. Tokyo secretly passed data on camps and prisons for Muslims in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) to Western intelligence services, Kyodo writes, citing sources.
It was this data that Washington used for accusations of human rights violations, for which it subsequently imposed sanctions against Beijing. Sources emphasized that Japan issued information about the XUAR on one condition: the West will not publicly refer to the source.
According to Kyodo, the transfer of this information indicates a strengthening of cooperation between the Japanese intelligence and the Five Eyes alliance – which includes the intelligence services of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The publication reminds that Tokyo still strives to maintain friendly relations with Beijing as its largest trading partner, while not deteriorating relations with its security ally, Washington.
In late August, it was reported that the administration of US President Donald Trump was considering calling the crackdown on Uyghur Muslims in China “genocide.” It is noted that the question of the terms used is currently being discussed in the working groups of the State Department, the Ministry of Internal Security and the National Security Council. The option is also being considered that Washington may accuse Beijing of crimes against humanity or ethnic cleansing, which in any case will aggravate the already complicated relations between states.
Prior to that, a group of Uyghur immigrants wanted to conduct an investigation in the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the Chinese leadership, demanding recognition of genocide and crimes against humanity. In particular, we are talking about attempts to repatriate thousands of Uighurs to China from Cambodia and Tajikistan. The 80-page lawyers' statement lists more than 30 Chinese officials who the expatriates believe are responsible for the criminal campaign against Muslims. The list also includes the head of state Xi Jinping.
