China demands more than just regret from Japan after embassy break-in

Photo/Illutration A Japanese police officer stands guard in front of the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo on March 25. (Reuters)

BEIJING–Japan has expressed its regret over the break-in at the Chinese ‌embassy in Tokyo by a knife-wielding ⁠Japanese military ⁠officer, but that is “far from enough,” the Chinese foreign ⁠ministry said on Friday.

The Japanese side has not discussed the details of the incident, ‌Lin Jian, ⁠spokesperson at the foreign ministry, told a regular news conference. Minoru Kihara, Japan’s most senior government spokesperson, described the incident on Tuesday as regrettable and said the government would take measures to prevent any recurrence.

SINO-JAPANESE TIES ALREADY UNDER STRAIN

The incident threatens to exacerbate Sino-Japanese ties. Relations have already ⁠deteriorated since November when the Japanese prime ‌minister said Japan could deploy its military ‌if a Chinese move against Taiwan also threatened its territory.

Police officers stand guard in front of the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo, Japan.

“The Japanese side has expressed deep regret to the Chinese side regarding ⁠this incident, but this is far from sufficient,” said Lin. “We once ⁠again urge the Japanese side to conduct a thorough investigation as soon as possible and provide China with a responsible explanation.”

Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said on Friday that the incident was “truly regrettable” and that his ministry was “fully cooperating” with the police investigation underway.

“We ⁠will also respond strictly once the facts have been established,” he said.

China demands Japan punish SDF officer who breached embassy in Tokyo

REUTERS

Photo/Illutration A Japanese police officer stands guard in front of the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo on March 25. (Reuters)

BEIJING/TOKYO–China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday demanded that Japan conduct an investigation into and severely punish an ‌officer from the Self-Defense Forces who was ⁠arrested on suspicion ⁠of breaking into the Chinese embassy in Tokyo.

The suspect, identified by Tokyo’s ⁠Metropolitan Police Department as 23-year-old Kodai Murata, allegedly scaled the embassy wall carrying an 18-centimeter knife.

Minoru Kihara, Japan’s top government ‌spokesperson, called the incident “regrettable” ⁠and said the government would take measures to prevent it from happening again.

“I understand that the police are continuing their investigation to clarify the incident and have already taken necessary security measures, such as increasing the number of police officers assigned to guard the Chinese embassy in Tokyo,” Kihara said.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, speaking at a regular press briefing in Beijing, said the incident ⁠had “seriously threatened the safety of embassy personnel and damaged ‌its dignity.”

He blamed far-right ideologies and neo-militarism within Japan for ‌the intrusion, which he said exposed “deep-rooted harmful effects of the Japanese government’s erroneous policies on major core issues concerning China-Japan relations.”

“We once again urge the Japanese side to ⁠conduct a thorough investigation into the incident immediately, severely punish the perpetrator and provide the Chinese side ⁠with a responsible explanation,” Lin said.

The incident came after months of heightened tensions between Beijing and Tokyo since November, when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said a Chinese attack on the democratically governed island of Taiwan could be deemed an existential threat to Japan. China regards Taiwan as part of its territory, a claim that Taipei rejects.

In response, Beijing has escalated a ⁠pressure campaign on Tokyo, including reimposing restrictions on Japanese seafood imports, advising its citizens against travelling to Japan and banning exports ‌of dual-use items linked to military applications.

Source :

Asahi