Tokyo

The landslide victory of the prodemocracy camp in Sunday's Hong Kong district council elections has cast a cloud over Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Japan slated for next spring.

Some in the Japanese government worry how the unfolding situation in Hong Kong would affect the visit plans as the region's democracy activists are expected to gain momentum.

If Beijing takes strong-arm measures to suppress protests in Hong Kong, international criticism might be also leveled against Japan, which would be seen as condoning the actions if Xi makes the state visit.

"We're deeply concerned about the recent situation in Hong Kong," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a press conference Tuesday. "With President Xi's visit coming up next spring, we'll continue to say what needs to be said."

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also warned against potential crackdowns, telling Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday, "It's important for a free and open Hong Kong to continue to prosper under the 'one country, two systems' policy."

In the elections, the prodemocracy camp rode a wave of support to net over 80 pct of the contested seats. Protesters are expected to press the Hong Kong government further for democratization, but the leadership in Beijing is unlikely to accept their demands.

Tokyo does not hope to meddle in the issue. A government source said, "It would be intervention in China's domestic affairs."

However, the stance has drawn fire from both the ruling and opposition camps.

Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Hiroshi Yamada, former parliamentary vice minister of defense, urged the government to rethink its plans for Xi's state visit, including a meeting with Emperor Naruhito.

"Amid grave concerns in the international community on the human rights situation in China, including in Hong Kong, why is President Xi being invited for a state visit?" Yamada told a House of Councillors committee meeting Tuesday.

A senior official of the opposition Japanese Communist Party also slammed the government, saying, "It is wrong to stay silent because of the state visit."

Japan still faces criticism over the 1992 visit to China by then Emperor Akihito, which took place even though China was under economic sanctions by Western countries following the 1989 bloody military crackdown in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Critics say China took advantage of the event in its attempt to end international isolation.

Japan has not changed its policy of improving ties with its Asian neighbor while carefully eyeing changes in public opinion in the West and other parts of the world.

A senior Foreign Ministry official expressed concerns over growing confusion in Hong Kong, saying, "The possibility that Xi may not be able to come is not zero."

[Jiji Press]