China: Man executed for stabbing Japanese school boy to death

The executed man was identified as Zhong Changchun.

He was sentenced to death in January for attacking the boy.

The boy was attacked when he was going to his school Shenzhen, southern China.

The incident had triggered diplomatic ties between the two nations.

The stabbing occurred on the 93rd anniversary of the Japanese bombing of a railroad track near Shenyang, which marked the beginning of the Manchurian Incident that led to Japan's invasion of northeastern China, reported Kyodo news agency.

Japanese Embassy Reacts

"The Government of Japan considers the murder of a completely innocent child to be an unforgivable crime, and we take this execution with the utmost solemnity," the Japanese embassy said in its statement to the BBC.

The Japanese government urged China to ensure the safety of its nationals in China.

"In light of this incident, the Japanese government will continue to take all possible safety measures and strongly urge the Chinese side to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals in China."

The Embassy said it had been informed about the execution by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The incident heightened fears among Japanese living in China and prompted Japanese companies, including Toyota, to ask their staff to take precautions. Others, like Panasonic, offered employees free flights home, reported BBC.

The stabbing incident last September occurred amid a spate of high-profile attacks on foreigners in China.

Four American teachers were also stabbed in Jilin last year.

Another Man Executed

In June, a man had attacked a Japanese mother and her child at a bus stop in Suzhou.

A Chinese woman, who tried to protect them, died in the attack.

According to reports, the Chinese man, who was behind the attack, has been executed.