China urges Japan to thoroughly investigate embassy knife attack, address root causes

China on Tuesday urged Japan to conduct a thorough investigation into the knife attack on the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo, address the underlying issues behind the incident, and provide a responsible explanation to both China and the international community.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian made the remarks after reports that the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office had completed a psychiatric evaluation of Kota Murata, an active-duty member of the Japan Self-Defense Forces who allegedly forced his way into the embassy with a knife, concluding that he is criminally responsible and indicting him.

"The case involving Japan Self-Defense Forces active-duty officer Kota Murata's illegal armed intrusion into the Chinese Embassy in Japan occurred four months ago," Lin said at a regular news briefing.

"Despite China's repeated solemn representations, the Japanese side, under various pretexts such as so-called psychiatric evaluations, repeatedly delayed the investigation and handling of the case instead of promptly bringing the perpetrator to justice. China is strongly dissatisfied with this," he said.

Lin noted that serious incidents threatening the safety of Chinese diplomatic missions in Japan have continued to occur from time to time.

He said many people of insight in Japan and across the international community have pointed out that this series of dangerous incidents reflects deep-seated issues in Japan, including the rise of right-wing forces, the suppression of rational voices, the serious lack of proper historical education, shifts in Japan's security policy toward a more offensive and expansionary direction, and deficiencies in the management and education of personnel within the Self-Defense Forces.

"Any attempt by the Japanese side to downplay or gloss over these issues would only embolden and encourage such unhealthy trends, ultimately posing serious risks to Japan itself and the region. The international community must remain highly vigilant," Lin said.

He urged Japan once again to conduct a thorough investigation, make rectifications, reflect on and correct its mistakes, identify the root causes behind the incident, and provide a responsible explanation to both China and the international community.