China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong protest to Japan after a man claiming to be a member of the Self-Defense Forces climbed the fence and invaded the Chinese embassy in Tokyo, threatening to kill diplomatic staff. Chinese authorities lodged an urgent protest, demanding Japan investigate and severely punish the offender. They also criticized the foreign policy of Prime Minister Takaichi's government for damaging bilateral relations.
Lin Jian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the Chinese government has lodged a strong protest with the Japanese government following a "forcible intrusion" at the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo this morning (24 Mar).
The incident involved an individual claiming to be a member of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) who climbed the wall and broke into the Chinese embassy grounds. The Chinese spokesperson said, "The individual admitted his actions were illegal and threatened to kill Chinese diplomatic staff in the name of God," which constitutes a serious violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and gravely endangers the safety of diplomatic personnel.
Chinese authorities stated that this event reflects the rising spread of extremist right-wing ideas in Japan. They called on the Japanese government to urgently address three key points: conduct a thorough investigation and decisively punish the perpetrator, guarantee the highest security for all Chinese embassies and consulates in Japan, and review and revise anti-China policies to prevent such incidents in the future.
This intrusion occurred amid tense relations between the two Asian powers. Since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan stated in November last year that Japan might use military measures if China attacked Taiwan, tensions have risen. Reports also indicate Japan plans to "downgrade" the importance of relations with China in its annual diplomatic report, following multiple confrontations over the past year.
Japan's Ministry of Defense has not yet officially commented on allegations that the intruder was a member of its forces, while Chinese authorities continue to call on Prime Minister Takaichi to retract provocative statements regarding Taiwan to help de-escalate tensions.