Described by authorities as an “accidental incident,” China’s recent spate of violent attacks provoke concern over xenophobia and stress exacerbated by economic pressures.

By Lin Naishuang | Published by Voice of America (Chinese-language edition)

Summary

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the stabbing of a Japanese mother and son in northern China’s Suzhou on June 24 as an “accident.” This incident follows an attack on four American teachers in northeastern Jilin two weeks prior.

The Suzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau in Jiangsu Province issued a police report stating that at approx. 4 p.m. “a case of knife wounding occurred at the bus stop of Xindi Center on Tayuan Road, Suzhou High-tech Zone, resulting in three injuries (one of whom is Chinese and two are Japanese).” According to reports, a Japanese mother and son were attacked, along with a Chinese female school bus staff member.

According to the police report, patrol officers arrived at the scene promptly, arrested the suspect Zhou Moumou (a 52-year-old unemployed man who had recently arrived in Suzhou from elsewhere), and immediately sent the injured to the hospital for treatment.

In response to the attack, Ye Jinlong, a convener of the Asia-Pacific Committee of the Hong Kong Citizens’ Congress and a researcher on East Asian politics at the University of Tokyo, said he believed that the suspect’s unemployment status and recent arrival in Suzhou could be linked to China’s current economic decline and sharp increase in unemployment. He suggested social unrest or accumulated public resentment might lead to xenophobic violence or humiliating acts.

Ye Jinlong also pointed to recent high-profile incidents, such as graffiti at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo and the attack on American teachers in Jilin, as possible examples of xenophobia. He noted that while the Chinese government often refrains from guiding anti-Japanese sentiments, local governments or private companies may not be as controlled in their rhetoric.

The initial reaction of Chinese netizens to the attack on the Japanese mother and child also reflects xenophobic sentiments. Some netizens believe the incident may be related to “historical issues and hate education,” while others see it as a “major incident involving Sino-foreign relations, economic development, and national image.”

The Japanese Embassy in Beijing has issued warnings about recent stabbings in crowded places across China, reminding Japanese citizens to remain vigilant. The deterioration of people-to-people exchanges between China and Japan is a concern, especially given the negative perceptions reported in public opinion polls.

Ye Jinlong said he did not think the Japanese government would elevate the matter to a diplomatic level, but will likely demand that the Chinese government properly care for the injured Japanese and prosecute the suspect according to law. He also noted that the incident, occurring near a Japanese Overseas Chinese School in Suzhou, could deepen the Japanese people’s negative evaluation of the Chinese government or the overall image of the Chinese. [For the original, full-text version of this report by Voice of America, see the publisher’s website here].

A report from The Japan Times on China’s spate of recent violent attacks looked at concerns expressed by Weibo users about China’s economic environment. The Times quoted one user who wrote: “The pressure of this economic environment is cascading down to everyone, who may be pushed to the brink by a slight change in circumstances. Don’t provoke or bully others; you don’t know where their limits of outbursts are. Don’t let yourself become a victim of the economic climate.”

Protests over the economy, especially the housing crash, have become more frequent, representing 80% of publicly recorded dissent last year, according to Freedom House’s China Dissent Monitor. Nearly a third of office workers saw their salaries fall, according to recruitment platform Zhaopin.

China has historically prided itself on being one of the world’s safest countries, with multiple “strike hard” anti-crime campaigns. However, rare outbursts of public violence still occur, and authorities have listed the prevention of extreme violence as a top priority for law enforcement.

The Guangdong Police College’s analysis of 140 high-profile cases of violent attacks between 2000 and 2021 found that most culprits did not have a prior criminal record and that China’s rapid economic transformation had disadvantaged some segments of society, leading to violence as a means of expressing frustration.

The ruling Communist Party has also created a social work department to strengthen its grip on community organizations and better coordinate social relationships, resolve conflicts, and address mental health issues exacerbated by economic pressures and the country’s three years of COVID-19 isolation.

For the original, full-text version of this report by The Japan Times, see the publisher’s website here.

Further Updates

Knife attack on Japanese mother and child in China triggers anti-foreigner feelings

The Chinese government has typically described such incidents as isolated and not indicative of broader trends. However, social media comments that praise the attackers or question the presence of foreigners in China have sparked worries about the direction of public opinion. Despite assurances from authorities that China is committed to protecting the safety of all foreign nationals, there has been a noticeable decline in the number of Americans and Japanese living there. Around 2012, 15,000 Americans were studying in China; in 2024, there are only some 800. An estimated 100,000 Japanese nationals currently live in China, down from a peak of 150,000 around 2012.