The stabbing death of a Japanese schoolboy in Shenzhen sparked controversy in China. Two Chinese scholars, Zhao Hong and Chen Bi, published an article condemning violence under the guise of “patriotism” and urging people to speak up against such acts. However, their article was quickly deleted.
The scholars drew parallels to a similar attack on a Japanese school bus in Suzhou less than three months prior. They argued that attributing these killings to “frenzied populism” or “irrational hate education” does not justify or excuse such barbaric acts.
The article emphasized that defending savagery and brutality desecrates civilization and life. It called for severe punishment of violent crimes and criticized silence as tacit approval of violence and disregard for victims.
The authors expressed concern over the misuse of “patriotism” to justify crimes, from harassing people wearing kimonos to attacking innocent children. They stressed that remembering historical Japanese aggression should not lead to more killings and brutality.
The article advocated for not tolerating violent propaganda under the banner of patriotism and warned against using hatred to commemorate history. It urged people to maintain common sense and conscience as weapons to defend civilization.
The scholars noted the current hostile online environment in China towards Japan and the difficulty in expressing dissenting views. They concluded by stating that remaining silent in the face of such tragedy makes everyone complicit.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), September 23, 2024
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202409230197.aspx