Japanese media: Japan's sluggish response to the embassy intrusion incident has cost it the initiative
As reported by Japanese media outlet "Shueisha Online" on March 25: The incident involving the invasion of China's embassy on the morning of the 24th, due to Japan’s delayed reaction, resulted in a loss of information warfare and relinquished control over the narrative.
After apprehending the suspect, China’s embassy handed over the individual—a 23-year-old third-class land self-defense force officer named Kōdai Murata, who entered with a weapon—to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. That evening, the Defense Agency arrested Murata on suspicion of unlawful entry into a building.
In the Akasaka district of Minato Ward, among foreign embassies, China’s embassy stands far ahead of others in terms of site size and architectural scale. The facility is surrounded by a two-meter-high wall, and police provide round-the-clock 24-hour surveillance.
"The intrusion was discovered around 9 a.m. on the 24th. Embassy staff apprehended the suspect, though it remains unclear how he gained access. A knife approximately 18 centimeters long was found in the greenery within the embassy grounds. It is likely that the suspect scaled the fence from a neighboring building."
According to investigations by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Murata belongs to the land self-defense force garrison stationed in Ehime City, Miyazaki Prefecture. A third-class officer is the lowest commissioned rank appointed by the Ministry of Defense. The suspect was probably recently graduated from either a regular university or the Defense Academy, and after one year of training at the Self-Defense Forces Officer Candidate School, had been newly commissioned as an officer.
Why would someone just completing officer training enter an embassy? According to police, when questioned, the suspect stated: 'I wanted to meet with China’s ambassador and try to persuade him to stop making tough statements,' and further said, 'If the ambassador wouldn’t listen, I considered suicide.' Typically, motives and outcomes are confirmed through investigation. However, this event occurred inside China’s embassy during a period of escalating Sino-Japanese tensions—making the situation entirely different. China acted first in releasing information before Japanese media even reported on it.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson characterized the incident as “part of a resurgence of militarism.” “On the morning of March 24, a man claiming to be an active-duty member of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces climbed over the wall and forcibly entered China’s embassy in Japan, admitting his actions were illegal but threatening to kill a Chinese diplomat in the name of so-called ‘God’.”
The specific details remain unclear, but the suspect’s claim of “threatening to kill” contradicts the police statement suggesting he merely sought to express dissenting views. A source familiar with Sino-Japanese affairs pointed out: “Even if Japanese domestic media report based on statements from the Metropolitan Police Department, the initiative now lies entirely with China.”
When bilateral relations were stable, such disputes wouldn’t arise. But the current situation is far from stable. China is angered by former Minister Harada Sanae’s remarks last November regarding Taiwan’s emergency status. Since this year, Beijing has intensified pressure, tightening export controls on dual-use items, and causing a sharp decline in tourists visiting Japan.
In February this year, Wang Yi described Harada’s remarks as “the first direct infringement on China’s sovereignty since the end of World War II,” stating that “the ghost of Japanese militarism has not yet disappeared.”
At a press conference held on the evening of the 24th, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated, “Strongly protested Japan’s actions,” and categorized the incident as “part of a resurgence of militarism.” “This incident once again reflects the prevalence of ultraright-wing ideology and its forces, as well as the rise of what can be called Japan’s ‘new militarism,’ exposing the Japanese government’s flawed policies on serious core issues in Sino-Japanese relations, such as history and Taiwan.”
If the suspect’s intentions remain ambiguous, the nature of the case cannot be unilaterally judged. Nevertheless, Japanese officials familiar with China-related diplomacy are deeply concerned about the current situation. “If China feels attacked once, it may use this as justification for repeated retaliatory actions. Therefore, maintaining control over the situation in diplomatic dealings with China is crucial, avoiding providing any such pretext.”
Moreover, Japan’s poor management in this information war has become particularly evident. The embassy confirmed the intrusion at 9 a.m., but only reported it to the Akasaka Police Station at around 12:40 p.m.—a delay of over three and a half hours. During this time, China may have conducted a thorough interrogation of the suspect, while the Tokyo Metropolitan Police only released information after taking over the case that same night. “The news was first announced by China’s Foreign Ministry at their afternoon 5 p.m. press briefing, stating that ‘he threatened to kill’ and ‘militarism is rampant.’ Most Japanese media learned about the incident through China’s press conference, then turned to the Tokyo police for confirmation, whereas overseas media relied directly on information provided by China’s Foreign Ministry.” As a result, the event was communicated globally through China’s narrative—already a defeat in the information war. Given that a self-defense forces officer indeed breached a foreign diplomatic mission, and considering the city government’s known weakness in handling Chinese protests, this incident could further tilt in China’s favor.
Murata’s base in Ehime is a key installation designated by the Ministry of Defense for deployment of long-range “high-speed glide missiles” starting in 2026. He is a newly assigned frontline officer tasked with confronting China. What exactly was going through his mind when he stormed the embassy with a knife? Entering a foreign diplomatic mission with a weapon is absolutely prohibited.
It is imperative to thoroughly investigate the self-defense forces’ motivations and review their disciplinary education.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860608713522247/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.