On September 18th, in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, a 10-year-old Japanese boy was fatally stabbed, sparking a case that has garnered attention both domestically and internationally. Japanese media outlets revealed today (November 30th) that the Chinese authorities have formally arrested a Chinese man in his 40s who was captured at the scene on suspicion of murder. However, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has yet to officially announce this arrest.
According to Kyodo News Agency, based in Guangzhou, the Chinese authorities have arrested the man who stabbed the Japanese boy at a Japanese school in Shenzhen back in September on charges of murder. It is expected that China will proceed with the prosecution process in the near future.
As of the deadline for this report, the Shenzhen police have not yet announced the formal arrest of the suspect.
On the 93rd anniversary of the “918 Incident” on September 18th, the tragic incident of the 10-year-old Japanese boy being stabbed on his way to school shook people both in China and Japan, sparking strong reactions in Japanese society. Some in China have criticized this incident as being the result of long-standing hatred indoctrination, while the CCP has been ambiguous in its response, denying any promotion of hatred and instead blaming so-called “anti-China elements,” dismissing it as an “isolated case.”
A report by Yomiuri Shimbun on October 18th quoted informed sources who revealed that the suspect committed the crime out of frustration due to difficulties in job hunting. “The man believed that if he did something significant, it would attract attention; if he injured a Japanese person, it would cause a big backlash, and at the same time, some people would support him.”
To this day, the Chinese authorities have not disclosed the motive behind the suspect’s actions and other background factors of the case.
Starting today, China has resumed the visa-free entry policy for short-term visits by Japanese citizens. According to Kyodo News Agency, this move is aimed at boosting economic exchanges and trade between China and Japan amidst a slowdown in China’s domestic economy. However, with the prevalence of indiscriminate killings and injuries in China, the increase in the number of Japanese visitors to China remains unpredictable, as social unrest continues to rise.