A Chinese man responsible for a brutal knife attack in eastern China that injured a Japanese woman and her child, while also killing a bus attendant who tried to intervene, has been sentenced to death. The sentencing of the 52-year-old man, identified by his surname Zhou, follows the June attack in Suzhou, a city in eastern China, which left the victims traumatized and raised serious diplomatic concerns between China and Japan.
According to Japanese officials, the man’s motive was rooted in his mounting debts and an apparent loss of interest in life. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, confirmed the death sentence on Thursday, calling the crime “unforgivable.” He expressed the Japanese government’s firm stance on the severity of the attack, especially as it involved an innocent child. Japan’s Consul General to Shanghai was present during the sentencing, underscoring the importance Japan places on the case.
Chinese officials, however, have not officially confirmed the sentencing. Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, only stated that the case was being handled in accordance with Chinese law, offering no further details. The Chinese government has yet to make an official statement addressing Japan’s concerns, with Hayashi emphasizing Japan’s demand for greater protection of its nationals in China.
This case follows a similar attack in September of the previous year, where a Japanese schoolboy was killed in a separate knife attack near a Japanese school in Shenzhen. The two incidents have raised alarms among the Japanese community in China, reigniting fears of growing anti-Japanese sentiment. In both instances, the attacks occurred against the backdrop of rising nationalism and xenophobia in China, issues that have been exacerbated by contentious historical events and ongoing territorial disputes.
The attack in June occurred when the Japanese mother was waiting to pick up her child at a bus stop near a Japanese school. The mother and child sustained non-life-threatening injuries, but a Chinese bus attendant who attempted to intervene tragically died of her wounds. This incident further fueled concerns about public safety in China, especially among foreign nationals.
Hayashi, speaking on behalf of Japan’s government, stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of foreign citizens in China, particularly those from Japan, who have already expressed heightened concern due to the rising tensions between the two nations. Nationalism and anti-Japanese sentiment, often stoked by Chinese state media and reinforced through discussions on China’s heavily censored social media, have been cited as contributing factors in the increased violence toward Japanese citizens.
The Suzhou attack and the subsequent sentencing of Zhou are seen as a manifestation of these complex historical and political tensions. China’s foreign ministry, however, downplayed the incidents, labeling them as “isolated” occurrences, and reiterated its commitment to safeguarding foreign nationals in the country.
Despite these assurances, the attack and the growing pattern of violence have led to calls for stronger measures to protect foreign nationals in China. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the attacks, stating that such incidents must never be repeated, reflecting the deep concerns within the Japanese government about the safety of its citizens abroad.
The rise in violent episodes, particularly random attacks near schools and hospitals, has added to the concerns of foreign residents in China, with many questioning the broader implications of such incidents. As the second trial, related to the death of the schoolboy in Shenzhen, is set to begin, the question of foreign nationals’ safety in China remains a pressing issue for both governments.
