The Chinese Embassy in Japan said Thursday it has received multiple threats and accused Japanese authorities of failing to take effective action despite repeated reports to police, the embassy said, as bilateral tensions continue to rise.
Acting Ambassador Shi Yong told reporters that on March 5 the mission received a letter from a group claiming to be made up of former police and military personnel that threatened attacks on China’s diplomatic facilities in Japan and vowed to "wipe out all Chinese" in the country.
The embassy posted on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) that it immediately alerted Japanese police. The post said law enforcement did not treat the reports seriously, did not implement effective countermeasures and failed to fully establish the facts surrounding the threats.
Japan’s Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the embassy’s accusations.
Tensions between Beijing and Tokyo have escalated since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in November that any Chinese military action against self‑ruled Taiwan could be grounds for a Japanese military response. China subsequently announced diplomatic and economic measures against Japan.
In late March, a Japanese army officer was arrested after trespassing onto the Chinese Embassy compound while carrying a knife. China formally protested the incident, and Japanese police increased security around the mission.
About a week later, the embassy received a bomb threat via social media from an individual claiming to be a Self‑Defense Force reservist, prompting a two‑hour search for explosives, Shi said. He did not disclose whether any device was found.
Shi acknowledged that police had strengthened protections around the embassy but warned the diplomatic mission remains "exposed to threats," urging more effective measures to ensure staff safety and the security of diplomatic premises.
Context: The embassy’s complaints reflect growing diplomatic friction and concern for the safety of foreign missions amid heated rhetoric over Taiwan and reciprocal measures between Beijing and Tokyo.
