Japan on Wednesday described as “regrettable” the arrest of a member of its Self-Defense Forces who is accused of breaking into the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo, an episode that drew a formal protest from Beijing amid already strained ties.
Japanese authorities say the incident occurred Tuesday morning when a 23-year-old man who identified himself as a member of the Ground Self-Defense Force climbed the embassy compound wall and was detained at about 9 a.m. Media reports quote the suspect as saying he wanted to meet the Chinese ambassador to urge him to refrain from hardline remarks and adding, “If that request was rejected, I wanted to surprise him by killing myself.” A knife was later found at the scene, officials said.
Government spokesperson Minoru Kihara said it was “truly regrettable that a Self-Defense Forces member, who is expected to comply with the law, has been arrested on suspicion” of entering the embassy. Kihara said police are investigating the case, steps have been taken to bolster security at the embassy, and measures will be implemented to prevent a recurrence.
China’s Foreign Ministry said it was “deeply shocked,” lodged a “strong protest with the Japanese side,” and accused the military personnel of threatening to kill diplomats. Beijing urged Japan to apply the full weight of the law and said the Chinese Embassy is cooperating with Tokyo police in the investigation.
The episode comes against a backdrop of deteriorating Sino-Japanese relations. Tensions have increased in recent months following comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about Taiwan and Japan’s possible military response if China attacked the island, along with disputes over export controls and maritime incidents.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery