A 10-year-old Japanese student at a school in China died after being stabbed on his way to school, leading to demands from Japanese officials for Beijing to do more to protect Japanese nationals. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed shock at the crime and urged the Chinese side to provide all the details of the case. The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed condolences and assured that measures would be taken to ensure the safety of foreigners in China, including those from Japan.
The stabbing occurred near the Shenzhen Japanese School in Shenzhen, southern China, and the motive behind the attack remains unclear. The incident coincided with the anniversary of a historical event involving Japanese troops in China. Japanese authorities had previously advised schools to enhance safety measures following a June stabbing incident involving a Japanese woman and child in Suzhou.
Tensions between China and Japan have been strained due to historical animosity, territorial disputes, and military activities in the region. While gun violence is rare in China, stabbing attacks have occurred in the past. Despite nationalist sentiments on social media, there has been an outpouring of sympathy for the student online, with calls for peace and friendship between China and Japan. Japanese diplomatic missions in China and Hong Kong lowered their flags in mourning for the young victim.
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