Young Pupil, 10 Years Old, Suffers Fatal Stabbing in Recent Incident Near Japanese Educational Institution in China
A lad encountered a suspicious individual approximately 200 meters (650 feet) away from the Japanese school's entry in Shenzhen, a prominent tech metropolis with numerous Japanese businesses. This information was shared by China's foreign ministry.
The local police reportedly apprehended a 44-year-old suspect right at the scene and took him into custody. This was announced in a statement by the police.
There was no disclosure regarding the nationality of the victim by the Japanese or Chinese authorities. However, it's noteworthy that having Japanese nationality is a prerequisite for enrollment at the Shenzhen Japanese School, as per their website.
"The occurrence of such a disgraceful act against a minor on his way to school is deeply regrettable," Japan's Foreign Minister, Yoko Kamikawa, expressed to the press.
"We consider this incident of paramount importance and have once again asked the Chinese authorities to assure the safety of Japanese nationals," she added.
The event transpired on a significant date, marking the anniversary of the "918" incident in 1931, when Japanese soldiers detonated a Japanese-owned railway in northeast China, allegedly to claim the region.
This emotionally charged day is recognized in China as the beginning of Japan's invasion, with state media and officials emphasizing the importance of never forgetting the national disgrace.
The Chinese authorities remained silent about the motive behind the midweek attack. However, nationalism, xenophobia, and anti-Japanese sentiments have seen a surge in the country, often encouraged by state media.
In June, a Chinese man assaulted a Japanese woman and her child with a knife in front of a school bus in Suzhou, eastern China. The Chinese bus attendant who tried to intervene subsequently succumbed to her injuries.
Following the attack, Japan's foreign ministry advised Japanese schools to reevaluate their safety measures, Kamikawa stated.
Just before the 918 anniversary, "we had just requested the Chinese foreign ministry to implement stringent measures to safeguard Japanese schools, so we are dismayed that this incident occurred under these circumstances," she concluded.
At a routine news conference on the day in question, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, confirmed that the case was under investigation.
"China will carry on implementing effective measures to secure the safety of all foreigners in China," he added.
Although attacks on foreigners in public places were relatively uncommon in China, a series of high-profile stabbing incidents have sparked concerns lately.
Two weeks prior to the incident in Suzhou, four American college teachers were stabbed by a Chinese individual in a public park in Jilin, northeast China. This was revealed by Chinese police, following a minor altercation between one of the teachers and the attacker.
China's foreign ministry has characterized both incidents as isolated occurrences and chose not to disclose further details concerning the motives.
The world was shocked by the midweek attack on a Japanese minor near a prominent tech metropolis in China, Shenzhen. Despite the surge in nationalism and anti-Japanese sentiments, China's foreign ministry affirmed their commitment to ensuring the safety of all foreigners in the country.
In light of recent incidents, including the stabbing of four American college teachers in Jilin, China, many countries are urging their citizens to take extra precautions while traveling in China.
