Ten-year-old Japanese boy dies after stabbing in China

A ten-year-old Japanese student died a day after being stabbed near his school in southern China.

The boy, who attended the Japanese school in Shenzhen, died of his injuries early Thursday, Japanese officials said.

His attacker, a 44-year-old man surnamed Zhong, was arrested on the spot, local police said.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called the attack “extremely despicable” and said Tokyo had “strongly urged” Beijing to issue an explanation “as soon as possible.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the case was under investigation and China and Japan were “in contact”.

“China expresses its regret and sorrow that such a regrettable incident has occurred,” he told reporters at a press conference on Thursday.

Mr Lin also confirmed that the boy is a Japanese citizen and has a Japanese father and a Chinese mother.

The motive for the attack was not initially known. However, some observers expressed fears that the nationalist mood in China could lead to increasing violence against foreigners.

In June, a man attacked a Japanese mother and her child in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou. This attack also took place near a Japanese school and resulted in the death of a Chinese citizen who had tried to protect the mother and son.

In early June, four American teachers were stabbed to death in the northern Chinese city of Jilin.

Beijing has called all of these attacks – including Wednesday's – “isolated incidents.” And on Wednesday, Lin said China would continue to “protect the safety of all foreigners in the country.”

The Japanese embassy in Beijing called on the Chinese government to “prevent a recurrence of such incidents.”

Some have pointed out that the stabbing occurred on the anniversary of the infamous Mukden Incident, when Japan faked an explosion to justify its invasion of Manchuria in 1931, sparking a 14-year war with China.

Relations between the two countries have long been fraught with tension. For decades, the two sides have been at loggerheads over a range of issues ranging from historical grievances to territorial disputes.

A former Japanese diplomat said Wednesday's attack in Shenzhen was the “result of years of anti-Japanese education” in Chinese schools.

“This cost the precious life of a Japanese child,” wrote Shingo Yamagami, Japan’s former ambassador to Australia, on X.

Some Japanese schools in China have contacted parents following the stabbing and put them on high alert.

The Guangzhou Japanese School has cancelled some activities and warned against speaking Japanese loudly in public.

Earlier this year, the Japanese government requested about $2.5 million (£1.9 million) to employ school bus security guards in China.