Safety Warnings Issued Following Second Stabbing Incident Involving Japanese Nationals in Suzhou City, China

July 10, 2024 TruthUSA

Japanese living in China’s Suzhou city are more anxious these days following two recent stabbing incidents targeting Japanese nationals in the city just west of Shanghai.

One incident occurred on June 24, when a Japanese woman and her child were attacked by a knife-wielding Chinese man while waiting for a school bus. Both victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were hospitalized. Unfortunately, a Chinese bystander who intervened was also attacked and tragically died from her injuries as she attempted to prevent the assailant from boarding a bus.

The perpetrator, identified as Zhou, a 52-year-old unemployed man who had recently relocated to Suzhou City in Jiangsu province, has not disclosed a motive for the attack, and the investigation is ongoing.

The Japanese Consulate in Shanghai revealed that a similar incident occurred on April 3, where a Japanese employee was assaulted with a knife by a Chinese national on a busy street with many Japanese restaurants, just a short distance from the previous attack site.

Shuichi Akamatsu, the Consul General of Japan in Shanghai, met with Suzhou Mayor Wu Qingwen to demand more information about the recent attack and advocate for enhanced security measures near Japanese schools.

Mayor Wu characterized the incident as “isolated,” aligning with initial investigative findings.

Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, expressed deep regret for the incidents and wished a speedy recovery to the victims. He instructed the Japanese Consulate in Shanghai to push for preventative measures and regular updates from local authorities.

When questioned about the targeting of Japanese nationals, Japanese officials stated they were unable to provide an immediate assessment.

Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, also labeled the attacks as an “isolated case” on June 25, asserting that such incidents could occur in any country and emphasized China’s safety reputation.

In an interview with The Epoch Times, Hayato Sato, a Japanese commentator with a Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo, criticized the dismissive response of the Chinese regime.

‘Isolated Incident’ Narrative

Homare Endo, professor emeritus at the University of Tsukuba and director of the Global Research Institute on Chinese Issues, disapproved of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ depiction of the recent attack as an isolated incident.

In an analysis piece published on the Global Research Institute on Chinese Issues’ official website, Ms. Endo pointed out a discrepancy between this characterization and the absence of this phrasing in Chinese state-run CCTV coverage, indicating a significant inconsistency.

Ms. Endo further scrutinized the absence of this term during a press conference on CCTV, reinforcing her doubt about the Chinese foreign ministry’s narrative.

Considering the broader context of Japan-China relations and societal sentiments in China towards the United States and Japan, Ms. Endo referenced a similar stabbing incident on June 11 in Jilin City, China, where four Americans were injured. She suggested a pervasive sentiment rather than isolated incidents and cautioned Japanese residents in China to stay vigilant.

Mr. Sato also claimed that the three attacks “cannot be dismissed as low-probability events.”

Following the latest attack, the Japanese school in Suzhou temporarily shut down, showcasing heightened concerns within the local Japanese community after two attacks within two months.

CCP Propaganda’s Impact on Sino-Japanese Relations

In recent years, economic and social interactions between China and Japan have indicated tension despite significant trade relationships. Japan is China’s second-largest trading partner, with a trade volume of $307 billion in 2023, a slight decline from the previous year.

Investment trends reflect a more substantial cooling of relations, with Japan’s investment in China plummeting by 64.1% to $3.8 billion in 2023 after holding the position of China’s third-largest investor in 2022.

Despite these tensions, as of October 2022, there were 31,324 Japanese companies operating in China, more than anywhere else.

On Weibo, China’s social media platform, some expressed concerns that continued hostility might drive foreigners, impacting the local economy.

The diplomatic relationship between the two countries is heavily influenced by historical grievances and current political maneuvers.

Since the 1990s, under then Chinese Communist Party leader Jiang Zemin, the CCP has intensified its patriotic education, using Japan’s historical wartime actions as a central focus for critique.

Under current Chinese leader Xi Jinping, this narrative has evolved into a form of national essentialism, frequently portraying Japan as a foe. Diplomatic ties hit a low in June 2023 when Chinese nationals vandalized Yasukuni Shrine, a site memorializing Japan’s fallen soldiers.

Moreover, Japan’s alignment with the United States on Taiwan and broader Asia-Pacific security issues has exacerbated diplomatic tensions, emphasizing profound divides in Sino-Japanese relations.

Kohei Morinaga, a Japanese economic analyst, shared with The Epoch Times that while diplomatic ties between China and Japan are not on the verge of severance, the strain between them is expected to escalate.

“For future relations, the ideal approach would be a diplomatic strategy similar to the United States’, such as implementing high tariffs on strategic materials like semiconductors, imposing export controls, and other restrictions. Japan should maintain a similar relationship with China,” he added.

Ellen Wan contributed to this report.

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