A series of attacks on foreigners in China has been reported this year. On Wednesday, a 10-year-old boy was fatally stabbed while walking to a Japanese school in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. The incident occurred on the anniversary of the 1931 Manchurian Incident, which triggered Japan’s invasion of northeastern China. Some speculate that the 44-year-old Chinese man responsible for the stabbing was motivated by anti-Japanese sentiment.
Following the boy’s death, the social media account of the Japanese Embassy in China was flooded with messages of condolences from Chinese citizens. However, some comments also included anti-Japanese sentiments related to historical issues. This reflects how certain events can easily inflame anti-Japanese sentiment in China.
The 1931 Manchurian Incident involved officers from Japan’s Kwantung Army blowing up a railroad track near Liutiao Lake. Japan blamed China for this incident and launched military operations across northeast China as a result. The day is considered one of national disgrace for China and its anniversary often stirs up anti-Japanese sentiment.
While it remains unclear if the suspect had anti-Japanese sentiments, there are concerns that China’s education system and media coverage with an anti-Japanese slant may have influenced his actions.
This incident follows previous attacks on foreigners in Suzhou and Jilin earlier this year. It is believed that dissatisfaction within Chinese society due to economic struggles and an overly stressful environment under President Xi Jinping’s administration may be contributing factors to these attacks.
Despite its significance, Wednesday’s incident received little coverage in major Chinese media outlets.
In response to the tragedy, many people across China have expressed their condolences by sending flowers and messages to the school attended by the boy. People have also gathered at the school gates to pray for him during late hours into early morning.
It is worth noting that some individuals were surprised by how little awareness there was about this incident among their colleagues due to limited coverage within China itself.
