Stabbing Incident Near Japanese School in Southern China Raises Concerns

On Wednesday, a 10-year-old student was stabbed near a Japanese school in Shenzhen, southern China. This incident is part of a worrying trend of knife attacks targeting foreigners in the country.

According to police, a 44-year-old man named Zhong has been arrested in connection with the stabbing. The victim, who has the surname Shen, was quickly taken to a hospital for treatment. Both the Chinese and Japanese foreign ministries have confirmed the incident, but they have not disclosed the victim’s nationality.

The Shenzhen Japanese School, located near the attack site, is known to enroll Japanese nationals, further indicating the victim may be Japanese. At a news conference, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, assured that the government is committed to ensuring the safety of all foreigners in China.

This incident adds to a series of violent attacks on foreigners in recent months. In June, four American teachers were attacked in Jilin, and a Japanese woman and her child were targeted in Suzhou. The Chinese government has labeled these attacks as isolated incidents, insisting they are not aimed at any specific nationality.

In response to these incidents, major social media platforms in China have vowed to address hate speech against Japanese people and to combat extreme nationalism.

Historical Context and Sensitivity

The stabbing occurred on September 18, a date significant in China’s history as it marks the beginning of Japan’s invasion in the 1930s. This has intensified feelings of nationalism and anti-Japanese sentiment within the country. Social media on this day included reminders for Chinese citizens to remember the events of September 18.

In light of the attack, Japan’s Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, Hiroshi Moriya, requested detailed information from Chinese authorities and emphasized the need for preventive measures. Schools across China are now on alert, with the Guangzhou Japanese School canceling activities and advising parents to accompany their children.

The Shenzhen Japanese School had 273 students as of April and is located in an area with many Japanese residents. Shenzhen is home to around 3,600 Japanese people, making it one of the cities with the largest Japanese populations in mainland China.

This recent stabbing follows a pattern of attacks near Japanese schools. Earlier this year, a Chinese man attacked a Japanese woman and her child, resulting in the death of a heroic bus attendant who tried to help them. In another incident, four instructors from an Iowa college were attacked in Jilin

The increase in violence against foreigners in China raises serious concerns about safety and the rising tide of nationalism. Both Japanese and Chinese authorities are now focused on preventing further incidents and ensuring the security of foreign nationals in the country.