Ministry Minutes | Embassy intruder handed to Japanese police, China urges probe
By Lu Mengjie
People's Daily app
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China on Wednesday again urged Japan to investigate an intrusion at its embassy in Tokyo, punish the suspect and provide a full account.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a routine press briefing in Beijing in response to a question regarding a member of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces officer who forced entry into the Chinese Embassy.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian (Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry)

Lin said the embassy is coordinating with Japanese police on follow-up handling. The individual has been transferred to Japanese authorities, he said.

According to information verified and released by Japanese police, the individual is a serving second lieutenant in the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. He was carrying an 18-centimeter knife and scaled the wall to break into the embassy.

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Produced by Lu Mengjie

China has lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side in both Beijing and Tokyo, expressing strong dissatisfaction, Lin said, noting that the incident has seriously endangered the safety of embassy staff, disrupted the peace of the embassy premises, and undermined the dignity of the embassy.

"The incident also shows that Japan has failed to effectively fulfill its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and its special responsibility to protect the inviolability of diplomatic missions and representatives," Lin said.

"China urges Japan to immediately conduct a thorough investigation, severely punish the perpetrator and provide a responsible explanation to the Chinese side."