Japan avoids criticizing China over student death in Hong Kong

November 9, 2019

Tokyo--Japan on Friday avoided directly criticizing China over the death of a student in Hong Kong amid protests, ahead of a planned visit to Japan by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Xi is scheduled to visit Japan as a state guest next spring. The Japanese government hopes to realize the visit as smoothly as possible.

While expressing concerns over the student's death at a press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga reiterated Tokyo's call for a peaceful resolution to the situation through dialogue.

"Self-control and peaceful dialogue are helpful. It wouldn't be beneficial to say anything further," Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told a separate press conference, signaling Tokyo's desire not to harm relations with Beijing.

In a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang near Bangkok on Monday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the prosperity of a free and open Hong Kong is extremely important under the policy of one country, two systems. Jiji Press