A 10-year-old Japanese student attending school in Shenzhen, China, tragically died early Thursday morning following a knife attack that occurred on his way to school the previous day. The incident has sparked diplomatic tensions and raised concerns about the safety of Japanese nationals in China.
According to the Japanese Embassy in China, the attack took place around 8 a.m. on Wednesday, approximately 200 meters from the school gate. The alleged perpetrator, a 44-year-old man identified only by his surname Zhong, was immediately arrested at the scene by local authorities.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed “deep sorrow” over the student’s death, calling it “an extremely heinous crime” and a “grave and serious incident.” The Japanese government has committed to providing full support to the victim’s family and has dispatched officials from the consulate general in Guangzhou to the scene.
The attack follows a similar incident in June, where a man attacked a bus used by a Japanese school in Suzhou, resulting in one death and two injuries. These events have prompted Japan to propose a ¥350 million ($2.4 million) budget for enhancing security measures at Japanese schools throughout China, including the employment of security guards for school buses.
In response to the incident, Japanese officials have taken diplomatic action. Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano summoned Chinese Ambassador Wu Jianghao, expressing “deep concern” and requesting appropriate measures to prevent future occurrences and strengthen security around Japanese schools in China.
The timing of the attack, coinciding with the 93rd anniversary of the Mukden Incident that led to Japan’s invasion of Manchuria, has raised questions about potential links to historical tensions between the two nations.
As Shenzhen is home to a significant Japanese expatriate community, with nearly 12,000 Japanese nationals and over 1,600 Japanese companies in the region, the incident has sent shockwaves through the Japanese business community in China.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has acknowledged the attack, and local police are continuing their investigation. As diplomatic discussions unfold, both nations face the challenge of addressing safety concerns while navigating their complex bilateral relationship.
Newsource: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/09/19/japan/crime-legal/japanese-school-boy-china-dead/
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