人権担当補佐官、中谷氏起用へ　中国への対応念頭―岸田首相

　岸田文雄首相は８日、自民党の中谷元・元防衛相（６４）と首相官邸で面会し、新設する人権問題担当の首相補佐官に起用する方針を伝えた。第２次岸田内閣が発足する１０日に就任。香港や新疆ウイグル自治区の人権状況に国際社会から懸念が出ている中国への対応を念頭に置いたポストで、問題解決に積極姿勢を見せる狙いがある。
　面会後、中谷氏は記者団に「外相や経済産業相と緊密に協力し、国際的な人権問題に対処する」と強調。関連する民間企業の取り組みを後押しする考えも示した。
　中谷氏は防衛相や党安全保障調査会長を歴任。４月には与野党有志議員による「人権外交を超党派で考える議員連盟」を設立し、共同代表に就任した。党内では谷垣グループの代表世話人を務め、９月の総裁選では首相を支持した。
　首相は総裁選で、人権問題で中国に「毅然（きぜん）と対応する」として、担当補佐官の新設を公約。中国は「中国内政への外部勢力の干渉は許さない」と反発した。（2021/11/08-10:47）

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to pick former Defense Minister Gen Nakatani as his adviser for human rights issues, a new post the Japanese leader plans to set up apparently with China in mind.
   Kishida informed Nakatani of the decision during their meeting at the prime minister's office Monday. Nakatani will assume the post Wednesday, when Kishida, who took office in early October, launches a new cabinet.
   By establishing the new position, Kishida aims to highlight his administration's policy of working actively to help resolve human rights issues in Hong Kong and the Xinjiang Uighur autonomous region in China, which are drawing concerns from international society, informed sources said.
   "I will deal with international human rights issues by working closely with the foreign and industry ministers," Nakatani told reporters after the meeting. He also suggested that he will support efforts by Japanese companies in tacking human rights issues.
   In April, Nakatani, who previously served as chairman of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Research Commission on National Security, established a group of lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition blocs for the promotion of human rights diplomacy. He serves as co-head of the suprapartisan group.