Photo/Illutration The nameplate at the gate of the Shenzhen Japanese School in China's Guangdong province is covered on Sept. 18 following the knife attack on a student. (Yohei Kobayakawa)

A tragedy that should not have occurred has happened again in China. 

In Shenzhen, Guangdong province, a 10-year-old boy was stabbed by a knife-wielding man while walking to a Japanese school and later died despite receiving medical treatment.

The Chinese authorities should make a full investigation into the fatal stabbing and make every effort to ensure the safety of children.

In June, a similar knife attack against Japanese schoolchildren took place in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, where a Japanese school's shuttle bus became a target.

The attack resulted in injuries to a Japanese mother and child and the death of a Chinese woman who was working as a bus guide.

Naturally, the two fatal attacks have shaken the Japanese community in China as the crimes were committed in situations related to Japanese schools, which are familiar to many Japanese living in China, and should be the safest places.

However, the Chinese authorities have yet to offer any detailed information about the incident in Suzhou. We don’t know, for example, whether the attacker specifically targeted Japanese nationals, the motive behind the attack, or other core aspects of the crime.

If the Chinese authorities handle the latest deadly assault in the same manner, failing to provide an adequate explanation, the anxiety among the Japanese population in China will not be alleviated, and there will be no way to establish necessary safety measures.

In both cases, the suspects were promptly detained. Since both incidents occurred in urban areas, surveillance camera footage of the attacks should exist.

We strongly demand that the Chinese authorities disclose related information and explain what they know about the attacks.

The incident in Shenzhen occurred on Sept. 18, which is remembered in China as a "National Shame Day," marking the Mukden Incident, the seizure of the Manchurian city of Mukden by Japanese troops in 1931, which was followed by the Japanese invasion of all of Manchuria.

It is distressing that the attack could not be prevented despite the Japanese government urging the Chinese side to take safety measures for Japanese schools beforehand.

At this point, it is prudent not to directly connect the incident with persistent anti-Japanese sentiment among the Chinese.

While it is true that there are individuals in China spreading anti-Japanese rhetoric online, they are in the minority. Surveys show that the proportion of Chinese with a favorable impression of Japan is actually increasing, a phenomenon that may be linked to the rise in tourists visiting Japan.

It is also important not to forget that many Chinese are distressed by the incident. Chinese social media is filled with messages mourning the death of the child.

There are 11 Japanese schools in China, along with additional supplementary schools. Since the 1990s, the presence of Japanese companies in China has grown significantly, and Japanese communities have become well-established in the country’s major cities.

Compared to many other countries, China boasts relatively good public safety records. However, there is always a risk of becoming involved in such incidents and children are particularly vulnerable.

The recent downturn of the Chinese economy could worsen the public security situation in the country.

After the Suzhou incident, Japanese schools have increased patrols and other security measures. However, there are limits to what schools can do independently to ensure the safety of children.

Both the Japanese and Chinese governments need to work together quickly to ensure a safe learning environment for children.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Sept. 20