Japanese Elementary School Student Fatally Stabbed in Shenzhen, China… Rising Tensions in Sino-Japanese Relations

A 10-year-old Japanese elementary school student who was attacked with a knife while on the way to school in Shenzhen, China, has tragically passed away. This incident is expected to further worsen the already tense relations between Japan and China.

Incident Overview

The attack occurred on the morning of September 18, 2024, near a Japanese school in Shenzhen. The assailant attacked the student about 200 meters from the school gate with a knife. The victim was immediately rushed to the hospital but unfortunately passed away on the morning of the 19th. The attacker, a 44-year-old Chinese man, was arrested at the scene, and authorities are still investigating the motive behind the crime.

Impact on Sino-Japanese Relations

This tragic event took place on the anniversary of the Mukden Incident (September 18), a date of historical significance, and is likely to further strain Sino-Japanese relations. Japan's Foreign Ministry has strongly urged Chinese authorities to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals, and the Japanese Embassy in Beijing has lowered its flags to half-mast. Attacks on Japanese citizens in China are not unprecedented— a similar incident occurred in June, leaving the Japanese community in China deeply shaken.

China's Response

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it is doing everything possible to ensure the safety of foreign nationals, but rising anti-Japanese sentiments within the country have heightened concerns. Analysts suggest that the growing hostility toward Japanese nationals may be linked to China’s political climate, which has increasingly fueled anti-Japanese sentiments.

 

This incident has created significant unrest among the Japanese community in China and signals further deterioration of Sino-Japanese relations amidst long-standing historical and political tensions.

 

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