Beijing: China has lodged a strong protest with Japan over what it described as a “forceful break‑in” at its embassy in Tokyo, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, adding to already tense bilateral relations between the two Asian powers.
Speaking at a regular media briefing in Beijing, ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China was “deeply shocked” that a man claiming to be an active‑duty officer of the Japan Self‑Defence Forces had forcibly entered the Chinese embassy in Tokyo by climbing over the compound wall.
“The individual admitted that the actions were illegal and threatened to kill Chinese diplomatic personnel in the so‑called name of God,” Lin told journalists.
According to Lin, the man was stopped by embassy staff and later handed over to Japanese police. No Chinese diplomatic staff were injured, though a knife was reportedly found at the scene. The ministry demanded that Tokyo conduct a thorough investigation, punish those responsible, and provide China with a formal explanation.
“The Japanese side must effectively guarantee the safety of the premises and personnel of Chinese embassies and consulates in Japan, reflect on and correct its policies towards China, and fundamentally prevent such incidents from occurring again,” Lin added.
Japan’s Ministry of Defence acknowledged being aware of media reports on the incident but declined to comment further, referring inquiries to local authorities conducting the investigation. Japanese media identified the suspect as a Japanese national believed to be affiliated with the Japan Ground Self‑Defence Force, though the government has not confirmed his official status.
