A major diplomatic incident occurred in Tokyo in which a second lieutenant in the Japanese Self-Defense Forces scaled the walls of the Chinese Embassy compound, wielding a knife and looking for the Chinese ambassador. The individual was apprehended and handed over to the Japanese authorities.
In response to a question at the Chinese Foreign Ministry briefing today, spokesman Lin Jian said: “China deplores the incident and has protested to the Japanese side both in Beijing and Tokyo. China pointed out the incident gravely threatened the safety of the embassy staff, disrupted the peaceful state of the embassy, and impaired its dignity. It shows that the Japanese side failed to fulfill its obligations in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations or to fulfill its special responsibility to uphold the inviolability of diplomatic premises and personnel. We once again urge the Japanese side to immediately launch a thorough investigation, bring the perpetrator to justice and fully account for the incident.”
