On the morning of the 24th local time in Japan, a man broke into the Chinese Embassy in Japan in Minato-ku, Tokyo.
According to Kyodo News on the night of the 24th, the Metropolitan Police arrested the person on suspicion of breaking into a building. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, the man is Kodai Murata (23 years old), a third-class land lieutenant who is affiliated with the Ground Self-Defense Force Ebino (also translated as Ebino) garrison.
Based on the descriptions of various Japanese media, the incident can be roughly restored.
Because the embassy was guarded by security personnel, Murata climbed over the embassy wall from the fourth floor of the building next door and broke into the embassy area. He broke into the embassy area at about 9 a.m. and was immediately restrained by embassy staff on the spot. At about 12:40, the embassy informed the Azabu Police Station of the situation. Japanese police subsequently arrived at the scene and took control of the man. At about 9 p.m., Japanese police arrested him on suspicion of illegal trespassing into a building. While Murata was being controlled, a knife that he may have brought in was found nearby. No embassy personnel were injured in the entire incident.
The Metropolitan Police Department's Public Security Department revealed to the Asahi Shimbun that Murata admitted the crime and said: "It is true that he broke into the embassy area without the consent of the embassy." He also said that he broke in to meet with the Chinese ambassador to express his opinions. The Ministry of Public Security believes that Murata committed the crime personally.
A knife with a blade length of about 18 centimeters and similar to a kitchen knife was also found in the embassy courtyard. Murata said the knife was purchased and brought in beforehand. Regarding his motivation, he explained: "If I express my opinion to the ambassador but is not accepted, I plan to commit suicide to shock the other party." In addition, he also expressed similar words, "I hope China will not make tough remarks."
The Metropolitan Police Department stated that it has been implementing 24-hour vigilance and security for the Chinese Embassy. It "deeply regrets" that this incident occurred, and said that it will take response measures including deploying additional police forces.
The Ministry of Defense said it was "confirming the factual relationship."
Suspect self-defense force background
The third-class land lieutenant is equivalent to the second lieutenant in the army of other countries. Murata had just been demobilized for the first time in March this year and was assigned to the Ebino garrison in Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu. He left the station at noon the day before the incident, and was considered to be absent from work without excuse on the 24th.
The combat units currently stationed at Emono garrison include the 24th General Division Company (Infantry) and the 3rd Special Division Battalion (Artillery) of the Western Front Special Division Division. The 24th Company is a reserve force and will be disbanded this year as planned.
China strongly protests
Our embassy has made solemn representations and strong protests to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, demanding that Japan immediately launch a thorough investigation into the incident, severely punish those involved, make a responsible explanation to China, and at the same time take effective measures to ensure the safety of our embassy and consulate personnel, consulate buildings and Chinese citizens in Japan, and prevent such incidents from happening again.
Before the Japanese media reported it, China first disclosed the news at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' regular press conference that day.
Lin Jian said that on the morning of March 24, a criminal who claimed to be an active official of the Japanese Self-Defense Force climbed over the wall and forcibly broke into the Chinese Embassy in Japan. This person admitted that his actions were illegal and threatened to kill Chinese diplomats in the so-called "name of God." China is deeply shocked by this incident and has made solemn representations to Japan and lodged a strong protest. The relevant incident seriously violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, seriously threatened the personal safety of Chinese diplomats and the safety of diplomatic facilities, and was of extremely bad nature.
Lin Jian pointed out that this incident once again reflects the rampant far-right ideological trends and forces in Japan and the "new type of militarism" taking advantage of the situation. It also exposes the Japanese government's erroneous policies on history, Taiwan and other major core issues involving China-Japan relations.
He stressed that the Japanese side had neglected its Self-Defense Forces personnel and failed to fulfill its security responsibilities to the Chinese embassy, consulates and diplomats. China demanded that the Japanese side immediately investigate the incident thoroughly, severely punish the relevant personnel, and give China a responsible explanation. The Japanese side must effectively ensure the safety of the Chinese embassy and consulates in Japan and personnel, reflect on and correct mistakes in its China policy, and fundamentally prevent such incidents from happening again. The international community should be highly vigilant against Japan's dangerous trends of accelerating rightward shift and uncontrolled expansion of the Self-Defense Forces.
