Three Months After the Assault on Japanese Father and Son
A Japanese elementary school student was attacked and injured by an assailant while going to school in China.
Moriya Hiroshi, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary and Deputy Government Spokesperson of Japan, stated at a regular press conference on the 18th, "One student from the Japanese school in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, was attacked by a man this morning and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital." Deputy Chief Moriya added, "We understand that Chinese authorities have taken the suspect into custody and are investigating. The Japanese Consulate-General has requested local authorities to prevent recurrence and share information to protect Japanese nationals."
According to Japanese government officials, the victim is a male elementary school student attending the local Japanese school and was stabbed with a knife by the assailant while going to school. Shenzhen is a key city in southern Guangdong Province, home to many high-tech companies. It is known for having many foreign companies and a relatively large foreign population.
Lin Zhen, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, explained at a regular briefing in the afternoon, "On the morning of the 18th, a 10-year-old student of the Japanese school in Shenzhen was stabbed by a man about 200 meters from the school entrance. The injured student was immediately taken to the hospital and is receiving full medical treatment." He added, "The suspect was apprehended at the scene. China will effectively protect the safety of all foreigners."
In June, a similar incident occurred in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, where a Chinese man wielded a weapon against three people, including a Japanese mother and child who had come to pick up their child from school. The Japanese woman and her preschool-aged son were injured. At that time, Hu Yuping, a Chinese female guide for the Japanese school bus, was seriously injured while protecting the family and later died during treatment.
A tribute message and floral wreath honoring Huyuping, who died protecting a Japanese mother and child in June. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The recent attack on Japanese nationals, occurring just three months later, coincided with the 93rd anniversary of the Manchurian Incident (September 18 Incident) in 1931, when Japan launched its invasion of Manchuria. China, which frequently highlights Japan’s war crimes and colonial aggression to promote historical and patriotic awareness, extensively covered the Northeast region’s September 18 commemorative ceremonies and domestic tourist activities through state media from the morning of the incident.
When asked whether there was any information regarding whether the attacker’s motive was a hate crime, given the coincidence with the September 18 Incident anniversary, spokesperson Lin responded, "China is a country governed by the rule of law. We have always welcomed people from Japan and other countries to travel, study, do business, and live in China, and we will continue to take effective measures to ensure the safety of foreigners residing in China."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
