A 10-year-old Japanese student in China was stabbed on his way to school and died the following day, prompting Japanese officials to call for increased protection of Japanese nationals in China. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida described the crime as “extremely despicable” and urged China to provide all the facts related to the case. The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed condolences for the boy’s death and reassured that measures would be taken to ensure the safety of foreigners in China, including those from Japan.
The stabbing occurred near the Shenzhen Japanese School in Shenzhen, and the motive behind the attack remains unclear. The incident coincided with the anniversary of the 1931 Mukden incident, a historical event that has strained China-Japan relations in the past. Japanese authorities have been advising Japanese institutions in China to enhance safety measures following previous attacks on Japanese citizens.
Despite ongoing tensions between the two countries, Chinese social media users expressed sympathy for the victim and called for peace between China and Japan. The incident comes at a time of heightened Chinese military activity in the Asia-Pacific region, further complicating the relationship between the two nations. While gun violence is rare in China, knife attacks have occurred, with the latest incident injuring four U.S. university instructors in June.
The Japanese government has requested explanations and increased safety measures from Chinese authorities to protect Japanese nationals in the wake of this tragic event. Flags at Japanese diplomatic missions in China were lowered as a sign of mourning, emphasizing the need for cooperation and security for all foreign nationals in China.
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