In Shenzhen, China, a tragic incident occurred when a 10-year-old boy, the son of a Japanese father and a Chinese mother, was brutally attacked and killed while on his way to school. The boy was riding his bike with his mother just 200 meters from the Japanese school when the attack happened. The attacker, a 44-year-old man with a criminal record, targeted the child with a knife, stabbing him in the thigh and abdomen. Despite being rushed to intensive care, the boy succumbed to his injuries due to severe blood loss.
The attack is seen as a deliberate and planned act aimed at the Japanese community, sparking concerns over rising anti-Japanese sentiment in China. The suspect had no prior connection to the victim. After the attack, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa sought clarification from Chinese officials, but they downplayed the incident, urging calm and discouraging political escalation.
In response, Japan announced that it would allocate funds to strengthen security at its schools in China. However, there remains uncertainty about how seriously the Chinese government will address the safety concerns of Japanese nationals. The incident highlights rising anti-Japanese sentiment in China, fueled by nationalistic rhetoric, with hateful messages circulating on Chinese social media targeting Japanese institutions and citizens.
This tragic incident has left the Japanese community in Shenzhen in shock, as many had considered the area safe. The brutal nature of the attack and the lack of a strong response from local authorities have raised concerns about the safety of Japanese nationals in China.