Suzhou Attack on Japanese School Bus Sparks Safety Concerns, Diplomatic Calls for Protection
A violent incident in Suzhou in June 2024, were a Chinese national attacked a Japanese school bus with a knife, has heightened safety concerns for the Japanese community in China. The attack resulted in injuries to a Japanese mother and son,and tragically,a female Chinese school bus guide who intervened to protect the children succumbed to her injuries after being hospitalized.
Suzhou, a city with notable Japanese investment and a considerable Japanese expatriate population of approximately 5,000 as of October 2024, is a key economic hub in close proximity to shanghai. The “China Japanese Chamber of Commerce,” representing Japanese businesses operating in China, issued a statement on August 1 expressing deep regret over the attack. The chamber also issued a strong appeal to Chinese authorities and relevant parties, demanding effective measures to ensure the safety and peace of Japanese residents and calling for the prompt disclosure of detailed details, including the incidentS background.
The attack occurs against a backdrop of heightened historical sensitivities. China has designated 2025 as a significant year, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Anti-Japanese War. A domestic Chinese film titled “731,” which was slated for release and depicts the atrocities of the Imperial Japanese Army’s unit 731, has not yet confirmed its theatrical release date, with speculation that it may have been postponed.
Reporting by Rushi Tashima and Tomoko Wakasugi from Beijing and Suzhou, respectively, for Nikkei Shimbun (nikkei Chinese website).
Background Information: Japanese Schools in China
Japanese schools in China are educational institutions established to provide schooling for the children of Japanese nationals residing in China, operating in accordance with Chinese regulations.Further details on the relevant regulations can be found on the official websites of the Ministry of Education of China and the Suzhou Municipal Education Bureau.
Official website of the Ministry of education of china: http://www.moe.gov.cn/srcsite/A02/s5911/moe_621/199504/t19950405_81906.html
Suzhou Municipal Education Bureau Official Website: https://jyj.suzhou.gov.cn/szjyj/gjjl/202005/057dab6e91f247bf90cb5be722a1615d.shtml
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