Two Japanese men and a Chinese woman were injured in a knife attack at a restaurant in Shanghai on Tuesday, according to local authorities. The incident has prompted Japan to demand a clear explanation from China and severe punishment for the suspect.
Details of the Attack
A 59-year-old man wielding a fruit knife entered the restaurant located in the Shanghai World Financial Centre in Pudong around noon. He attacked the victims before being detained by police. The injured were taken to a local hospital for treatment. One of the victims is a senior executive at a Japanese company operating within the commercial complex.
Police reported that the suspect has a history of mental illness and that an investigation into the motive is ongoing.
Reaction from Japan
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a press conference in Tokyo that the Japanese foreign ministry and its diplomatic mission have asked China to “clarify the facts of the case and give a clear explanation” and “severely punish the suspect,” as reported by Mainichi.
Japan's embassy in China issued an advisory urging Japanese citizens in the country to remain vigilant and take precautions, according to The Japan Times.
Context of Strained Relations
The attack occurs against a backdrop of deteriorating China-Japan ties. Relations have worsened since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi last year discussed the possibility of deploying Japan's military in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan. China considers Taiwan, a self-governed island, a breakaway province and seeks reunification.
Renewed Concerns for Japanese Expatriates
The attack has revived safety concerns among the Japanese expatriate community in China. In September 2024, a 10-year-old Japanese boy was fatally stabbed in Shenzhen. In June 2024, a Japanese mother and her child were injured in a knife attack while waiting at a school bus stop in Suzhou; a Chinese woman who tried to protect them later died from her injuries. The assailant in that case was sentenced to death and executed in April last year.
A Japanese employee working in the financial district expressed shock, saying, “I was shocked because I used to go to that restaurant often.” Several Japanese firms operate offices in and around the Shanghai World Financial Centre.
