Murder of Japanese Schoolboy Casts Shadow Over China-Japan Relations

The Japanese community in China is on high alert following the death of a 10-year-old Japanese boy, who was stabbed on his way to school in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province.

The perpetrator was a 44-year-old Chinese man who has been apprehended by local authorities. His motive remains unclear; however, the attack occurred on September 18, a historically sensitive date as it marks the anniversary of the Mukden Incident in 1931, which was a prelude to Japan’s invasion of China.

The Japanese government has demanded a thorough investigation and immediate safety measures to protect Japanese nationals in China. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio expressed deep condolences over the death of the child. He condemned the act as a “despicable crime” and urged China to provide full clarity about the situation​.

Further raising concerns, this is the second time in three months a knife-wielding assailant has attacked Japanese schoolchildren in China. In June, a Chinese man attacked a Japanese mother and child who were waiting to board a bus to a Japanese school in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. The attacker then attempted to force his way onto the bus.

He was stopped by the heroics of Hu Youping, the Chinese school bus driver. Hu was killed in the attack, but succeeded in preventing any further casualties.

As of 2023, there were 128,000 Japanese nationals living in mainland China. The population is concentrated in major manufacturing hubs like Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou. In turn, those cities are home to Japanese businesses and schools that cater to these communities.

The incident has prompted Japanese corporations to take steps to protect their employees in China. Toyota and Toshiba have urged their staff to exercise heightened caution, advising them to avoid drawing attention to themselves by speaking Japanese in public spaces.

Panasonic has gone a step further, offering its employees free flights back to Japan. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi and Nissan have communicated directly with their employees in China, offering support and counseling to help ease concerns over safety.

Business leaders such as the Japan-China Economic Association (JCEA) have reiterated that the business relationship between Japan and China must be based on the safety of Japanese nationals. Kishida also stated that stable relations between Japan and China rely on continuous dialogue and cooperation across all fields, particularly to ensure a business environment that protects legitimate activities​.

In the immediate aftermath of the attack, Japan’s Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko ordered the review of safety measures for Japanese school children commuting to school. She added that the government will also provide support for mental health care.

Kamikawa stressed the government’s commitment to pressing Beijing for full transparency regarding the fatal stabbing. She emphasized that Tokyo views the incident with utmost seriousness and will pursue all necessary actions to safeguard Japanese nationals, including students residing in China. The Japanese government continues to seek assurances from Chinese authorities to prevent further violence and ensure the protection of its citizens abroad.

China, while expressing condolences, has characterized the stabbing as an isolated incident and not reflective of broader tensions. Chinese officials dismissed any suggestion that the September and June attacks should be considered as part of a trend.

Both governments are handling the situation cautiously, focusing on the specific event rather than addressing long-term diplomatic relations directly.

The attack has also ignited a wider online debate in China, with reactions ranging from shock to cynical comments influenced by lingering anti-Japanese sentiment from World War II. Similarly, after the June attack, some netizens praised Hu, the woman who sacrificed her own life to save schoolchildren, while a few – in posts that were quickly deleted by censors – castigated her as a traitor.

In the wake of this tragic event, Japanese businesses in China face the delicate task of balancing immediate safety concerns with their long-term commercial interests.

China remains Japan’s largest trading partner, and despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, both sides have reiterated their commitment to maintaining constructive ties.