A Chinese man was sentenced to death for a knife attack that killed a bus attendant and injured a Japanese mother and her child in Suzhou, China. The ruling, delivered by a local court, followed an incident in June that raised concerns among the Japanese community in China.

The attacker, a 52-year-old unemployed man identified by his surname Zhou, reportedly carried out the attack after falling into debt and losing the will to live. According to Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, the court described the crime as intentional murder and noted the significant social impact of the case. Details of the ruling were not immediately available through Chinese official announcements or state media.

The attack occurred near a Japanese school on June 24, where the mother was picking up her child. The two sustained non-life-threatening injuries, but a Chinese bus attendant who intervened to stop Zhou succumbed to her injuries. Japanese officials reported that their Consul General in Shanghai attended the sentencing.

Hayashi expressed the Japanese government's grave concern over the incident but did not share any direct quotes, emphasizing that the safety of Japanese citizens in China remains a priority. The Suzhou court's ruling reportedly did not reference Japan directly, and the Chinese foreign ministry stated that judicial authorities would handle the matter according to the law.

This case comes amid rising nationalism and anti-foreign sentiment in China, exacerbated by historical grievances and ongoing territorial disputes. These sentiments often manifest in online discussions and occasionally escalate into violent incidents, as seen in the attack on the Japanese nationals.

A second attack targeting Japanese citizens occurred in Shenzhen in September, resulting in the fatal stabbing of a 10-year-old schoolboy near another Japanese school. The trial for that case was due to begin this week, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK. Both incidents have heightened concerns among Japanese expatriates in China, prompting calls for improved safety measures.

In response to the attacks, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida previously demanded that such incidents "must never be repeated." However, the Chinese government characterized the incidents as isolated and stated that it has taken measures to ensure the safety of foreign nationals within its borders.

The attacks are part of a broader rise in public violence in China, often attributed to individuals acting out of personal grievances. Knife attacks and other violent episodes targeting strangers have become more frequent in recent years, sparking debates about social pressures and mental health issues in the country. Chinese authorities have also faced criticism for not adequately addressing the underlying causes of these incidents.