Chinese court hands down death sentence on Japanese man for fatal knife attack

International

A COURT in Suzhou, eastern China has sentenced a 52-year-old man to death for a knife attack in June that left a Japanese woman and her child injured and a bus attendant dead.

The man, surnamed Zhou, was reportedly driven to the attack by mounting debts and a loss of interest in life, according to Japanese officials per a CNN report.

The June 24 attack took place at a bus stop near a Japanese school, where the mother was picking up her child.

While both the woman and her child suffered non-life-threatening injuries, a Chinese bus attendant who intervened to stop Zhou's assault died from her wounds.

The tragic event has drawn widespread attention, with Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi condemning the violence as “unforgivable” and emphasizing Japan’s serious stance on the verdict.

Though Chinese authorities have yet to confirm the sentencing details, Japan’s Consul General in Shanghai was present at the hearing, underscoring the diplomatic importance of the case.

Hayashi reiterated Japan’s demand for stronger protection of its citizens in China, especially in light of rising concerns about anti-Japanese sentiment.

This attack was the first of two incidents involving Japanese nationals last year, heightening fears of increasing violence against foreigners.

In September, a 10-year-old Japanese schoolboy was fatally stabbed near a Japanese school in Shenzhen, prompting further alarm among Japan’s expatriate community.

The two attacks have raised questions about the safety of Japanese nationals in China, where rising nationalism and historical grievances continue to fuel tension.

Despite the incidents, China’s Foreign Ministry has characterized them as "isolated," assuring that measures will be taken to ensure the safety of foreign citizens.(CMM)