Multiple Japanese media outlets reported that a school bus of a Japanese school was attacked. A Japanese mother and child were injured and sent to the hospital for treatment, with no life-threatening injuries. After stabbing the mother and child, the assailant attempted to board the school bus to harm more people but was stopped by the school bus “guide” (a Chinese woman).
This Chinese woman was seriously injured and is in critical condition. The assailant has been arrested. A consular official from the Japanese Consulate-General in Shanghai stated in an interview that there is currently no evidence to suggest that this was a targeted attack against Japanese people.
This is an extremely unfortunate incident, and we look forward to a response from the Suzhou police, providing more information about the case.
I am very eager to understand what the assailant was thinking, whether it was a random attack on society (seeing the school bus and wanting to attack), or an act targeting foreigners out of “patriotic fervor.” Previously, in a park in Jilin City, four American teachers on an exchange program were attacked, and the relevant authorities considered it an “accidental incident.” I hope this time it is also an “isolated incident.”
However, such an incident in Suzhou is particularly worrying.
I remember during the pandemic, a Chinese woman wearing a kimono in Suzhou was harassed, and a man in uniform demanded that she take off her kimono, which also sparked widespread discussion. This is not to say that Suzhou is more xenophobic, but because as a major city open to the outside world, Suzhou has more Japanese companies and more Japanese people working there.
The “Japanese school” is established for the children of these Japanese staff members, and it is a product of openness and international exchange. If the Japanese parents of those students feel that it is not safe to study here, it will accelerate the withdrawal of Japanese companies.
Just a few days ago, a delegation from Jiangsu Province visited Japan. The official press release on the website of the Jiangsu Provincial Foreign Affairs Office stated that the visit was to “promote traditional friendship, deepen exchanges, and contribute greater strength to the comprehensive promotion of strategic mutual benefit between China and Japan.” It seems that both Suzhou and Jiangsu Province still welcome Japanese companies.
In any country, attacks on school buses will be severely punished because the signal it sends to society is extremely bad, far worse than general public security incidents. However, on the Chinese internet, there will definitely be some people cheering for such attacks. Compared to the attack itself, society’s views on the attack are more worrying. If many people cheer, the probability of similar incidents happening again will be greater.
What is the mainstream public opinion of a society’s attitude towards this? This is the key to this incident.
Last summer, I had a conversation with a police officer at a police station about the issue of “wearing kimonos in Chinese cities.” The police officer clearly stated that Chengdu is very open and there will be no problems. I believe this represents the understanding of most police officers.
Xenophobia, anti-Americanism, and anti-Japanese sentiment, which develop into personal attacks, clearly violate Chinese law. However, some people believe that there are “grander, more correct, and more just” principles, and under these principles, harming foreigners makes them feel excited.
This is an objectively existing mysterious atmosphere. Kind people are timid and dare not speak out, not because they are afraid of the assailant, but because they are worried about this “mysterious atmosphere.”
The Chinese female guide on the school bus is undoubtedly admirable. Friends living in Japan say that the focus of Japanese media and netizens is the Chinese woman who is in critical condition, and some even call for donations for her.
She is not only brave but also understands what true justice is. She has made an extremely significant contribution to Suzhou. If she had retreated, it would have caused greater casualties. She never had that “mysterious atmosphere” in her heart, but believed in the principle of protecting children and being faithful to her job responsibilities.
I believe that for a society, this is a more normal principle. Such a principle will not only protect Japanese children but also Chinese children.
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