A Chinese man, Zhou Jiasheng, 52, has been sentenced to death for attacking a Japanese mother and child with a knife and killing a Chinese woman who tried to protect them.
The attack happened on June 24, 2024, outside a Japanese school in Suzhou, China.
According to Chinese authorities, Zhou committed the crime after losing his job and falling into severe debt, which caused him to lose the will to live. The court ruled the crime as “intentional murder” and stated that the death sentence was due to the “significant social impact” caused by the attack.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi of Japan condemned the crime, describing it as “absolutely unforgivable.” He said, “The crime killed and injured innocent people, including a child. We extend our deepest sympathies to the victims.”
Hayashi also praised Hu Youping, the Chinese bus attendant who was killed while trying to protect the Japanese mother and child during the attack.
Officials from Japan’s consulate in Shanghai attended Zhou’s sentencing, although the court’s ruling did not mention Japan directly.
The attack was one of three violent incidents targeting foreigners in China last year. It caused concern among the Japanese community in the country. Another stabbing in Shenzhen, which killed a Japanese schoolboy, added to the fears.
China has seen a rise in public violence, with many attackers reportedly seeking to “take revenge on society” due to personal frustrations. Last year, there were 19 attacks on pedestrians or strangers, a significant increase from previous years.
Recently, Chinese authorities have carried out several high-profile executions. On Monday, a man who killed at least 35 people in a car attack was executed. Last month, a university student who killed eight people in a stabbing spree was sentenced to death, and in December, a man who injured 30 people by driving into a crowd was given a suspended death sentence.
Mao Ning, spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, commented briefly on Zhou’s case, saying it was “in judicial process.” She added, “China will continue to act to protect the safety of foreign nationals in the country.”
