Japan’s new Foreign Minister, Takeshi Iwaya, expressed serious concerns on Wednesday regarding recent stabbing attacks involving Japanese nationals in China. The issue was raised during his first phone call with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi since taking office last week.
Last month, a 10-year-old boy enrolled in a Japanese school was fatally stabbed in Shenzhen. Similarly, in June, a Chinese national died while attempting to protect a Japanese mother and her child during an attack on a bus used by a Japanese school in Suzhou. These incidents have heightened concerns about rising anti-Japanese sentiment in China.
While Beijing described the attacks as isolated incidents, it assured that the safety of all foreigners in China remained a priority. During the conversation, Iwaya urged China to enhance measures to safeguard Japanese citizens and requested a detailed explanation of the schoolboy’s case, according to a statement from Japan’s foreign ministry.
Addressing Military Activities And Airspace Violations
In addition to concerns over the attacks, Iwaya expressed Japan’s “grave concerns” over the growing activities of the Chinese military. He sought clarification regarding an incident in August when a Chinese military aircraft breached Japanese airspace—a first, according to Japan’s defence ministry.
Although the Japanese statement did not reveal Wang’s response to the airspace breach, both ministers agreed to continue communicating on the matter.
Aiming for Improved Bilateral Relations
Despite these pressing concerns, the tone of the conversation was relatively positive. According to Chinese state media, Wang Yi appreciated Japan’s “positive signals” to develop stable bilateral relations. He expressed hope for a “new atmosphere” in Japan’s cabinet and a fresh chapter in China-Japan relations.
Wang also emphasised the importance of maintaining regional peace and avoiding interference from “external forces,” hinting at the US, Japan’s key ally. He encouraged Japan to maintain an “objective, rational, and friendly” perception of China moving forward.
(With Inputs from Reuters)
