In Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, a 10-year-old boy attending a Japanese school was fatally stabbed on his way to school. Premier of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Cho Rong-tai, expressed his hope for the public to be more vigilant when traveling to China. Japanese senior media figure Masao Yaita stated that the Chinese Communist Party’s intensified anti-Japanese education and propaganda efforts have led to a series of anti-Japanese incidents.
On the 18th, a boy attending a Japanese school in Shenzhen was attacked with a knife on his way to school, and despite efforts to save him, he tragically passed away. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs classified the incident on the 19th as a “case,” claiming that such incidents could happen in any country. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the 19th strongly condemned the act as a “heinous criminal act” and demanded a prompt explanation from the Chinese authorities.
As the new session of the Legislative Yuan of Taiwan commenced, Premier Cho Rong-tai was invited to attend for a policy report and questioning. During a media interview before the session, Cho Rong-tai expressed his deep regret for the unfortunate incident, stating, “We feel very sorry for the victims and their families, and we hope such incidents will not occur again. This is not only for Japanese nationals or citizens of other countries but also for our own citizens, as we hope for their safe and peaceful travel or business in China.”
Cho Rong-tai pointed out that the government has repeatedly reminded the public and issued orange travel alerts to raise awareness among the people. He mentioned that despite the government’s appeals, some incidents continue to occur. In the event of an incident, the government will request relevant units and ministries to understand the facts and handle them effectively.
Taiwanese citizen Guo Yuxuan, aged 22, went missing after arriving in Shanghai on August 27. Deputy Minister of the Mainland Affairs Council Leung Wen-chieh stated during a routine press conference on the 19th that the Guo family had reported the missing person, and the Straits Exchange Foundation had also informed the mainland’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, but there has been no further information available.
Additionally, a senior executive of the Formosa Plastics Group from Taiwan was questioned upon entry into mainland China and was later placed under “border control,” preventing his return to Taiwan up to this point. Leung Wen-chieh clarified that the individual’s inability to return to Taiwan was not due to political or national security reasons. The case involves the wishes of the family and the individual, leading to delayed reporting when some information was first known. The individual is currently detained for investigation and has not returned to Taiwan since early September.
On June 27, the Mainland Affairs Council raised the travel alert for mainland China and Hong Kong and Macau to “orange,” advising Taiwanese people to avoid non-essential travel. The council emphasized that Taiwanese individuals should carefully assess the personal safety risks when traveling to the mainland or Hong Kong and Macau and register on the “Dynamic Registration System for Taiwanese Traveling to the Mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau” before departing.
Masao Yaita, the Japanese senior media figure, stated on Facebook that the tragedy was likely related to the Chinese Communist Party’s high-profile commemorations of the “September 18 Incident” 93 years ago and incitement of Chinese people’s hatred towards Japan. While the primary responsibility lies with the perpetrator of the violence and the tolerance of the Chinese Communist Party, the Japanese government’s appeasement stance towards China over the years cannot be absolved. For instance, even after Chinese military aircraft violated Japanese airspace on August 26, Japan still sent a friendly visit delegation led by senior Liberal Democratic Party member Shunichi Yamaguchi to Beijing for a visit, where they met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and failed to lodge a protest.
Yaita highlighted that in recent years, the Chinese Communist Party has intensified its anti-Japanese education and propaganda efforts, leading to a series of anti-Japanese incidents. Recent examples include Chinese internet celebrities urinating and graffiti-ing at the Yasukuni Shrine in Japan, as well as a Chinese broadcaster criticizing the Japanese government off-script on an NHK radio broadcast, sparking strong discontent among the Japanese public towards the Chinese Communist Party.
He pointed out that when dealing with a rogue regime, if one does not show a firm stance but only offers smiles, the other party will inevitably take advantage. Following the attack on the Japanese boy, Japanese netizens criticized the Japanese government for its weak stance towards China. Suggestions included “elevating the danger warning level for travel to China,” evacuating Japanese citizens from China, and even severing diplomatic relations with China.
Yaita mentioned that he heard several Japanese companies have requested their employees in China to send their families back to Japan, which he believes is a responsible attitude. While Japanese companies may earn some money in China, having employees and their families live in danger and fear daily is not worth the gain. In recent times, the Chinese Communist Party has not only incited anti-Japanese sentiments but also anti-American, anti-Taiwanese sentiments. He warned that what happens to the Japanese today could very well happen to Taiwanese tomorrow, urging Taiwanese individuals in China to prepare early.