Chinese embassy in Japan urges Tokyo to investigate ‘terrorist threats’

The Chinese embassy in Japan accused Tokyo of failing to protect its diplomats after receiving three threats within a month, in light of the continuing dispute between the two Asian neighbors.
In a sharply worded statement, the embassy urged Tokyo to “severely punish the perpetrators” and provided details of incidents including a break-in and a bomb threat.
On March 24, a man described as a member of the Japan Self-Defense Forces stormed the Chinese embassy in Tokyo and threatened to kill diplomats.
It was reported that this incident came only a few weeks after the receipt of a message threatening to kill Chinese people from a party calling itself the “Elite Unit” and including former members of the Self-Defense Forces and the police.
At the end of last month, a third incident occurred, in which a person claiming to be a former military man sent an online threat to blow up the embassy.
“We once again strongly urge the Japanese side to speed up the investigation to clarify the facts of the case… and severely punish the perpetrators in accordance with the law,” the embassy quoted Chargé d’Affaires Shi Yong as saying.
He added that the claim of all these individuals belonging to the Self-Defense Forces is “unusual.”
“Is there a systematic organization behind this? Are they instigated or directed by some force?” he asked, calling on Japan to “investigate the ideological roots of the individuals involved.”
Relations between Japan and China have deteriorated since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaishi indicated in November that Japan might intervene militarily in any Chinese attempt to control Taiwan.
These statements angered China, which considers the island part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to annex it.
It summoned the Tokyo ambassador and warned Chinese citizens against visiting Japan.