On September 18 each year, the Chinese authorities open up the history of Japan’s invasion of China to incite anti-Japanese sentiment. Just on the past September 18, a Chinese man stabbed a 10-year-old Japanese child in Shenzhen, sparking widespread public attention. This incident marked the third recent foreign-related attack in China following assaults on four American teachers and a Japanese mother and child.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a press conference on the 19th, where three Japanese journalists raised questions regarding the attack on the Japanese boy in Shenzhen.
When asked about the “motive of the attacker” by a journalist from Kyodo News, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson did not directly respond, but mentioned that “the boy is of Japanese nationality, with his parents being Japanese and Chinese citizens respectively.”
Another journalist from Nikkei asked, “In June this year, there was an incident in Suzhou where a Japanese preschool child was innocently attacked with a knife. The spokesperson described it as a random incident back then. Is this recent incident also considered a random incident?”
The spokesperson responded, “This is a standalone case,” and mentioned that “similar incidents could happen in any country.”
The Nikkei journalist continued to inquire, “Two incidents of Japanese children being attacked with knives in China within a short period have shocked Japan, causing a huge reaction domestically. How do you view the impact of these events on Sino-Japanese relations?”
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson reiterated that “this is a standalone case.” Previously, the ministry referred to such incidents as “random events.” Netizens commented that, “Several incidents have occurred recently. Can officials still claim they are random?”
Following the death of the Japanese student in Shenzhen, Chinese authorities began tightening controls on speech, with reports from media outlets such as Caixin and Ifeng being gradually deleted.
On the evening of September 19, Matsushita Holdings confirmed that, based on the specific circumstances, they will provide temporary repatriation (costs borne by the company) for employees and their accompanying family members stationed in mainland China, establish psychological counseling services, and adopt flexible work arrangements to prioritize their safety and health.
Over the past three months, there have been two consecutive attacks targeting Japanese nationals in China.
On June 24, an incident occurred in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, where a Japanese mother and son were attacked. According to Japanese reports, a preschool boy and his mother in their thirties were injured while waiting for a school bus at a bus stop. A Chinese female guide, trying to protect the children on the bus, was unfortunately stabbed to death.
After the attack on the Japanese mother and son, the Chinese authorities, in an effort to mitigate the negative impact of the incident, characterized it as a “random event,” with the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stating that “China is recognized as one of the safest countries in the world.” However, observers suggest that if anti-foreign behaviors emerge among Chinese citizens due to economic downturn or accumulated grievances, it may be the result of China’s assertive diplomacy.
Following the incidents, almost all Chinese media outlets fell silent, and the Chinese government mobilized its internet army to shape public opinion, urging netizens to “not overinterpret” and emphasizing that “China is the safest country in the world.”
Just two weeks before the attack on the Japanese mother and son, four American teachers were assaulted by a Chinese man in Jilin City.
Cornell College in Iowa confirmed in a statement that the four victims were teachers from the college who were conducting cooperative teaching at Beihua University in Jilin Province. The injured individuals included the brother of an Iowa State Assembly member.
Independent commentator Cai Shenkun raised questions on social media platform X, wondering if the perpetrator, Cui Dapeng, was an “ardent patriot” heavily influenced by CCTV’s anti-American rhetoric. Will American media and political parties issue travel warnings based on this incident?
Cai Shengkun pointed out that while the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson often claims China is the safest place in the world, it is surprising that a murder case concentrated on Americans has occurred. The response of the eloquent spokesperson when questioned by foreign media remains to be seen.