Chinese authorities have sentenced Zhou Jiasheng, a 52-year-old man, to death for an attack outside a Japanese school in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, on June 24, 2024. The attack, which resulted in the death of a bus attendant and the injury of several individuals, including a child, has been classified as an “intentional murder.” The court cited Zhou’s personal grievances, including the loss of his job and mounting debts, as contributing factors to the violent act. Zhou’s sense of hopelessness led him to target innocent people, reflecting a troubling trend in China where a surge in public violence has been linked to personal discontent and a desire for revenge against society.
The incident, which also left a Japanese mother and her child injured, was one of three attacks on foreigners in China in the past year. It sparked fear within the local Japanese community, particularly following a similar stabbing in Shenzhen that killed a Japanese schoolboy. These incidents have raised concerns about the safety of foreigners in the country, with Chinese officials insisting that they will continue to safeguard foreign nationals.
The court’s ruling has drawn both domestic and international attention. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, during a press conference, expressed strong condemnation of the attack, calling it “absolutely unforgivable.” He also honored Hu Youping, the Chinese bus attendant who sacrificed his life to protect the Japanese family, highlighting the selfless acts of bravery amidst the chaos.
This case follows a series of high-profile executions in China, including a car attack that killed 35 people—the deadliest in a decade—along with a man sentenced to death for a stabbing spree that claimed eight lives. The increase in such violent incidents has been troubling, with authorities grappling with a rise in attacks, many of which are perpetrated by individuals with personal grievances. Last year, there were 19 such attacks, marking a sharp rise from previous years. These incidents, often carried out in public spaces, have prompted concerns about the mental health of perpetrators and the broader social challenges contributing to the unrest.
China’s foreign ministry, while acknowledging the severity of the case, reiterated its commitment to protecting the safety of foreign nationals. However, despite these assurances, the recurrence of such violent acts is raising questions about the underlying causes of the violence and the effectiveness of current preventive measures.
As the world watches, China’s handling of these cases will likely continue to influence perceptions of safety in the country, both for foreign nationals and its own citizens.
