A Chinese court has sentenced Zhou Jiasheng, a 52-year-old man, to death for his role in a brutal knife attack in June 2024. The assault, which took place at a bus stop for a Japanese school in Suzhou, resulted in the death of a Chinese bus attendant and injuries to a Japanese mother and her child.

The attack raised concerns about rising anti-Japanese sentiment in China, a matter that has since prompted a diplomatic response from Tokyo, as reported by AP.

Zhou, who was reportedly struggling with financial debt and harbouring suicidal thoughts, attacked the victims in what appeared to be a senseless act of violence. The court in Suzhou heard that Zhou’s actions were driven by a desire to end his own life. While the Japanese mother and her child survived the assault with relatively minor injuries, Hu Youping, the bus attendant who tried to intervene, succumbed to her wounds days later.

The Japanese government, which had been closely monitoring the case, expressed its strong condemnation of the attack. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi described the crime as "absolutely unforgivable," emphasising that Japan takes the ruling seriously. While the court decision did not make specific reference to Japan, Hayashi noted that officials from the Japanese Consulate in Shanghai were present for the sentencing.

This attack was part of a broader trend of incidents involving Japanese nationals in China, including a stabbing in Shenzhen in September, where a 10-year-old Japanese student was killed.

While the Chinese government has labelled these attacks as isolated incidents, they have nonetheless raised alarms about safety and the protection of foreign nationals in China.

Japan has continued to urge China to ensure the safety of its citizens, with tensions between the two countries further complicated by these violent events. As Beijing navigates these incidents, it faces growing pressure to address public sentiment and secure the safety of foreign nationals within its borders.