Japanese boy stabbed to death in China amid growing anti-Japanese sentiment

Yahoo

A 10-year-old Japanese boy was fatally stabbed on his way to school in Shenzhen, China, on Wednesday, the anniversary of the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931. This is the second such attack in recent months, stoking fears among Japanese expatriates and fuelling tensions between China and Japan amid growing anti-Japanese sentiment.

• What happened: The boy was stabbed in the stomach at around 8 a.m. right outside his school, Shenzhen Japanese School, and despite receiving treatment, succumbed to his injuries early the next day. The suspect, a 44-year-old surnamed Zhong, has a criminal record – including “damaging public infrastructure” and “disturbing public order” – but his motive remains under investigation. In response to the incident, local officials have expressed their condolences and increased security near the school. Meanwhile, Shenzhen residents have begun laying flowers outside the school gate. “This child, no matter what country he comes from, is the hope of a family and a nation,” said a retired teacher. Japan has condemned the incident and is now seeking answers, while China, which called the attack an “isolated incident,” promises to “continue to take effective measures to protect the safety of all foreigners.”

• The big picture: The incident has reignited concerns about anti-Japanese sentiment in China, which has fluctuated over the years due to historical grievances such as Japan's occupation of parts of the country in World War II. The attack notably came on the anniversary of the 1931 Mukden Incident, a key moment in Japan's invasion of Manchuria. Rising geopolitical tensions, including Japan's release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant, have further fuelled nationalist sentiment in China. Wednesday's stabbing attack follows a similar incident in June, when a Japanese mother and her child were attacked near a Japanese school in Suzhou and a Chinese bus attendant died trying to protect them. Videos calling for Japanese schools to be closed also circulated on social media. Following Wednesday's incident, some Japanese companies have issued safety alerts and even offered their employees free flights home. Some Japanese parents have also decided to send their children abroad earlier than planned.

Download the NextShark app:

Want to stay up to date with news from the Asian community? Download the NextShark app today!