Tue Sep 24 03:43:34 UTC 2024: ## China Urges Japan to Remain Calm After Boy’s Stabbing in Shenzhen
**Beijing, Sep 24, 2024** – China has called on Japan to remain calm and rational following the fatal stabbing of a schoolboy in Shenzhen last week, urging Tokyo to avoid politicizing the incident.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during a meeting with his Japanese counterpart Yoko Kamikawa in New York, assured Japan that China would investigate and handle the case according to the law. Wang emphasized that Beijing would continue to safeguard the safety of all foreign citizens in China.
The incident, which occurred on September 18th, the anniversary of the 1931 Mukden Incident, has raised tensions between the two countries. The 10-year-old boy, whose parents are reportedly of mixed Japanese and Chinese descent, was stabbed while on his way to a Japanese school.
While the motive behind the attack remains unclear, Japan’s foreign ministry expressed concern over alleged anti-Japanese sentiment on Chinese social media and demanded that Beijing address malicious posts targeting Japanese schools.
In response, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian refuted claims of widespread anti-Japanese sentiment and labelled attempts to link the stabbing to such feelings as “inconsistent with the facts.” He accused Japan of exaggerating the incident and “hyping up security risks.”
Japan has pledged to increase security measures at its schools in China, allocating ¥43 million (US$300,000) for this purpose.
The incident comes at a time of heightened tensions between China and Japan over territorial disputes in the region and Japan’s strengthening security ties with the United States and its allies. However, last week, China announced the gradual resumption of seafood imports from Japan after imposing a ban in 2023 following the release of treated water from the disabled Fukushima nuclear plant.
The incident has once again highlighted the fragility of relations between China and Japan, and underscores the need for both sides to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue to prevent further escalation.
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