TOKYO: The Japanese government “values” a UN report concluding that serious human rights violations have been committed in China’s Xinjiang Uighur autonomous region, Chief Cabinet Secretary MATSUNO Hirokazu said Thursday.

“We will urge China to provide transparent explanations and take positive and concrete actions,” Matsuno told a press conference.

Gen Nakatani, special adviser to the prime minister for international human rights issues, told reporters that the report is “considerably credible” as it was released after on-site inspections and talks with related authorities.

In the report released Wednesday, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said: “Allegations of patterns of torture or ill-treatment, including forced medical treatment and adverse conditions of detention, are credible, as are allegations of individual incidents of sexual and gender-based violence.”

The situation facing Uighurs and other ethnic minorities “may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity,” the report said.

The report urged China to take prompt steps to release all individuals arbitrarily deprived of their liberty.

Western nations and human rights groups accuse China of sending Uighurs and other ethnic minorities to camps in order to brainwash them and force them to work in the autonomous region.

An increasing number of Japanese companies are moving to stop using cotton made in the region for their products.

JIJI Press