A senior Japanese diplomat visiting Beijing has demanded that China investigate what was behind the fatal stabbing of a Japanese school boy in Shenzhen.
Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Tsuge Yoshifumi met Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong on Monday. Tsuge’s visit to Beijing came after a 10-year-old student at a Japanese school was stabbed to death in the southern Chinese city.
Tsuge demanded that Beijing determine the motive and other details of the attack, as well as take concrete steps to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals in China.
Tsuge also urged Beijing to take measures to curb the spread of unfounded anti-Japan social media posts, as they could incite similar attacks.
Sun expressed his regrets and said that the incident came as a surprise.
He expressed his intention to ensure the safety of Japanese and other foreign nationals, and said China will firmly oppose and crack down on any kind of violence.
Tsuge also met with members of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China.
During the meeting at the Japanese embassy in Beijing, Tsuge said he is aware of how significant the latest attack is for Japanese nationals in China, including parents and their children.
Tsuge said the Japanese government is ready to do everything it can to fulfill their requests, such as beefing up security around Japanese schools.
The chamber’s chairman, Homma Tetsuro, asked the government to take steps to ensure the safety of Japanese workers and their families in China.
Homma said their safety is a prerequisite for Japanese companies to continue operating in the country.