China Executes Man for Stabbing Japanese Schoolboy in Shenzhen

Shocking attack raises diplomatic tensions and fuels safety concerns among Japanese nationals in China

In a move that has reignited diplomatic tensions and sparked widespread debate, China has carried out the execution of Zhong Changchun, the man convicted of fatally stabbing a 10-year-old Japanese schoolboy in Shenzhen last September.

According to a statement shared with the BBC by the Japanese embassy in Beijing, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially informed Japan of Zhong’s execution.

The schoolboy, who had been on his way to a Japanese international school in the south-eastern Chinese city, was attacked without provocation. Zhong was sentenced to death earlier this year in January.

Diplomatic Repercussions and Rising Anxiety
The brutal nature of the attack, coupled with its possible racial motivations, sent shockwaves across both nations.

“The Government of Japan considers the murder of a completely innocent child to be an unforgivable crime, and we take this execution with the utmost solemnity,” said the Japanese embassy in its statement.

“In light of this incident, the Japanese government will continue to take all possible safety measures and strongly urge the Chinese side to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals in China.”

Although the official verdict made no reference to Japan or xenophobia, Japanese officials have voiced concerns about the wider implications.

Japan’s ambassador to China, Kenji Kanasugi, noted that Zhong had expressed a desire to speak with the victim’s family but stopped short of confirming whether Japanese nationals had been targeted deliberately.

In the wake of the stabbing, fear rippled through the Japanese community in China. Major corporations swiftly responded. Toyota urged staff to remain vigilant. Panasonic went a step further, offering free flights home to employees who felt unsafe.

The incident fed into growing concerns about the safety of foreigners in China, particularly in an environment increasingly shaped by fervent nationalism and online anti-foreigner rhetoric.

The timing of the attack stirred additional alarm. It occurred on 18 September—a historically charged date marking the anniversary of the 1931 Mukden Incident, which led to Japan’s occupation of Manchuria.

That date remains a powerful symbol in China, tied to its long-standing grievances over Japan’s wartime aggression. Tensions rooted in that history often resurface, particularly during politically volatile moments.

Online discussions following the stabbing were awash with commentary tying the murder to this sensitive anniversary. Some saw it as no coincidence, despite a lack of official confirmation.

The stabbing came amid a concerning pattern. Last year, a man in Suzhou attacked a Japanese mother and her child at a bus stop. A Chinese woman, attempting to shield the victims, was killed instead. That attacker has also since been executed.

More recently, four American teachers were injured in a knife attack in the northeastern city of Jilin, further raising questions about the safety of foreign nationals.

While the execution of Zhong Changchun may mark a legal closure to this harrowing incident, it leaves behind deeper questions about xenophobia, national security, and the fragile ties between two of Asia’s most influential nations.

For Japanese citizens in China, fears remain. Companies continue to review security measures. Families weigh tough choices. And at a political level, both countries are left grappling with the tension between historical resentment and present-day diplomacy.

Notable Attacks on Foreign Nationals in China: Incidents, Dates, and Legal Outcomes

Fatal Stabbing of Japanese Schoolboy in Shenzhen

• Date: 18 September 2024
• Location: Shenzhen, Guangdong
• Victim: 10-year-old Japanese boy
• Details: The child was fatally stabbed while walking to his Japanese international school.
• Attacker: Zhong Changchun, 44
• Legal Outcome: Sentenced to death in January 2025; executed in April 2025.

Knife Attack on Japanese Mother and Child in Suzhou

• Date: 24 June 2024
• Location: Suzhou, Jiangsu
• Victims: Japanese mother and her child (injured); Chinese woman, Hu Youping (killed while protecting them)
• Details: The attacker targeted the Japanese duo at a bus stop; Hu intervened and was fatally stabbed.
• Attacker: Zhou Jiasheng, 52
• Legal Outcome: Sentenced to death in January 2025; executed in April 2025.

Stabbing of American University Instructors in Jilin

• Date: June 2024
• Location: Beishan Park, Jilin City
• Victims: Four American instructors from Cornell College; one Chinese national was also injured
• Details: The group was attacked while visiting a local temple.
• Attacker: Cui Moumou
• Legal Outcome: Sentencing details have not yet been publicly disclosed.

Execution of British National Akmal Shaikh for Drug Trafficking

• Date of Execution: 29 December 2009
• Location: Ürümqi, Xinjiang
• Victim: N/A (drug trafficking case)
• Details: Shaikh was convicted of smuggling approximately 4kg of heroin into China.
• Legal Outcome: Executed by lethal injection despite international pleas due to concerns over his mental health.

Mass Killing in Zhuhai

• Date: 11 November 2024
• Location: Zhuhai, Guangdong
• Victims: 35 people killed; 43 injured
• Details: The attacker drove into a crowd outside a sports centre.
• Attacker: Fan Weiqiu, 62
• Legal Outcome: Sentenced to death and executed in January 2025.