There have been continuous harassment and provocations targeting China's diplomatic missions in Japan, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Friday, urging Japan to reflect on and thoroughly investigate the relevant incidents, and take corrective measures.
Guo made the statement at a press conference in Beijing in response to a media query about the recent incidents against Chinese diplomatic missions in Japan.
"In recent years, harassment and provocations against Chinese diplomatic missions in Japan have been incessant. A series of grave offensive have occurred recently, such as the embassy break-in committed by a Self-Defense Forces second-lieutenant carrying a knife. Such incidents, coming one after another, are egregious by nature and impact, revealing many deep-seated problems in Japan today," Guo said.
"These include the rampant rise of right-wing ideology and forces in Japan, with objective and rational voices being suppressed; the deeply ingrained pernicious influence of the Japanese government's erroneous policies on major core issues concerning China-Japan relations, such as those related to history and Taiwan; a severe lack of accurate historical education, allowing distorted views of history to prevail; a shift in Japan's security policy towards offensive, expansionary and dangerous directions; and Japan's loss of effective control and supervision over its Self-Defense Forces, with a lack of internal management and education with the Self-Defense Forces," he said.
"How to fundamentally solve these problems and eradicate the underlying social roots behind them is something that insightful individuals in Japan must seriously consider. If Japan always downplays such cases or attempts to shift the spotlight and blur right and wrong, it will only encourage further deterioration, leading to even more serious consequences and causing more Japanese people to suffer. The rise of neo-militarism into a menace would also threaten regional peace and stability. We once again urge Japan to reflect on its wrongdoings, thoroughly investigate and rectify them, and give China a responsible explanation," said the spokesman.
The Chinese Embassy in Japan had recently been subjected to multiple threats. On March 5, individuals claiming to be former Japanese police officers and ex-members of the Self Defense Forces sent a threatening letter to the embassy. Although the incident was immediately reported to Japanese authorities, the embassy received insufficient attention, and no effective measures were taken, with the case still unresolved.
On March 24, Kodai Murata, a 23-year-old second-lieutenant in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, scaled a wall and broke into the embassy while carrying a knife. The Chinese side lodged solemn representations with Japan following the intrusion.
On March 31, another individual claiming to be a reserve member of the Self-Defense Forces issued an online threat to the embassy, alleging that a remotely controlled bomb had been planted inside the premises, according to the embassy.
China urges Japan to reflect on wrongdoings, make thorough investigation following embassy intrusion: spokesman
China urges Japan to reflect on wrongdoings, make thorough investigation following embassy intrusion: spokesman
