The killing of a 10-year-old Japanese boy in Shenzhen has triggered alarm among Japanese expatriates living in China. Major Japanese companies like Toshiba, Toyota, and Panasonic are taking steps to safeguard their employees. Toshiba has urged its staff to stay vigilant, Toyota is offering support and information, while Panasonic has gone further, providing free flights home and counseling services to employees.

The Japanese government has condemned the attack, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida calling it “despicable” and urging Beijing to provide a swift explanation. Japanese schools in China have also responded by putting parents on alert, with some canceling activities and advising against speaking Japanese loudly in public.

The attack, which took place outside the Shenzhen Japanese School, was the third high-profile incident targeting foreigners in China in recent months. The assailant, a 44-year-old man named Zhong, was apprehended at the scene. Local authorities described the stabbing as an isolated incident and have begun installing security cameras near the school.

Chinese officials have expressed sorrow over the killing, and locals have been laying flowers at the school gate. However, concerns are growing within the Japanese community, with some questioning their safety in China. Diplomatic ties between Japan and China have historically been tense, and incidents like this raise concerns about the broader implications for Japanese nationals living in the country and the economic relationship between the two nations.

The incident has drawn attention to previous attacks on foreigners, including a June attack in Suzhou that targeted a Japanese mother and her child. A Chinese national died while trying to protect them, further heightening the anxiety among expatriates.

The geopolitical backdrop of strained Japan-China relations, combined with these violent incidents, is making many Japanese companies and citizens in China reconsider their safety and long-term presence in the country.