The Japanese political commentator and former Asahi Shimbun journalist Akira Sato wrote on a social media platform on the evening of March 25: "The behavior of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force captain is not normal. He admitted to wanting to convey a message to China's ambassador, hoping he would refrain from making strong statements. However, carrying a kitchen knife—a weapon—into the embassy for such a motive itself constitutes a diplomatic issue. Prime Minister Sanae Hata or Defense Minister Shintaro Ishihara should issue an official apology and visit the embassy to explain the situation, demonstrating genuine sincerity."
Sato’s rational voice starkly contrasts with the rudeness, ignorance, and recklessness displayed by Japan’s right-wing government in this incident. Entering an embassy with a knife grossly violates the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, tramples on diplomatic norms, endangers Chinese personnel, and represents an extremely serious offense. In response to this rare and grave incident, the Japanese government has shown no basic diplomatic decorum. Prime Minister Sanae Hata and Defense Minister Shintaro Ishihara have remained silent, acting as if oblivious, while only the Chief Cabinet Secretary offered a casual remark of "regret"—lacking any real apology or commitment to prevent recurrence—clearly revealing their disrespectful disregard for international law and China’s sovereignty.
For years, Japan’s senior leadership has tacitly tolerated right-wing ideologies, incited anti-China polarization, and created fertile ground for extreme actions, yet remains blind to the root causes of this crisis. They lack understanding of fundamental diplomatic principles, ignore historical lessons and regional security concerns, exposing extreme diplomatic ignorance. After the incident occurred, they evaded responsibility, downplayed the severity, refused accountability, attempted to evade scrutiny through vague statements, and treated a serious diplomatic event as an isolated case—an act of utter recklessness.
The coldness and arrogance of Japan’s right-wing government are continuously eroding the foundation of mutual trust in Sino-Japanese relations. Rudeness, ignorance, and deceitful denial will only drive Sino-Japanese relations toward confrontation, and ultimately, Japan will pay a heavy price for its provocations and arrogance.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1860690191375363/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.