China sanctions inspire push for Japan's own Magnitsky Act

Lawmakers cross party lines to align country with rest of G-7 on human rights law

Japan's parliament building in Tokyo: The country lacks a clear legal basis for sanctioning foreign officials over human rights. © Reuters

RYO NEMOTO, Nikkei staff writer

March 25, 2021 04:11 JST

TOKYO -- Japanese lawmakers will launch a cross-party alliance to craft legislation to enable sanctions over human rights abuses, pushing Tokyo to follow the lead of the U.S. and Europe in punishing China for its alleged mistreatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority.