EDITORIAL | Mourn, Honor Hu Youping, the Chinese Who Protected Japanese Kids

In a recent shocking incident in Suzhou, China, a Chinese hooligan attacked a bus belonging to a Japanese school. Wielding a knife, the attacker injured a Japanese mother and her son who were waiting on the street for the bus. Hu Youping, 54, a courageous Chinese bus attendant, was also stabbed during the attack. After the attack, she was taken in critical condition to the hospital, where she later died.

Suzhou in Jiangsu Province is a large, affluent, historically important city in China. It is also where many Japanese companies have established factories. 

Hu put her own life at risk by blocking the armed Chinese assailant from getting on the bus during the June 24 incident. Had she not done so, likely more of the Japanese students on the bus would have been harmed. Ms Hu fully deserves our commendation and thanks for her courageous actions. Her tragic death is regrettable and we offer our condolences to her family.

Paying Respect to Ms Hu

The Embassy of Japan in Beijing ordered flags at Japanese diplomatic facilities in China flown at half-staff in Hu's honor. That included the consulate-general in Shanghai. It also posted messages on the short-message website Weibo, expressing gratitude to Hu. Additionally, it offered prayers that her soul may rest in peace. 

Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa also expressed her profound sorrow and gratitude. She offered her condolences during a press conference. Such recognition of Ms Hu's heroic actions was fully warranted. 

The Japanese government should consider further honoring Ms Hu by dispatching one of its three top officials or at least an ambassador to pay tribute at her grave. Additionally, a heartfelt message of condolence and other appropriate expressions of appreciation should be conveyed to her family. 

Unanswered Questions in China

Hu's heroism demonstrated to the Japanese people that there are many kind and courageous Chinese. Nevertheless, we feel compelled to point out that this violent attack was reprehensible and raises many questions. Although the 52-year-old attacker was taken into custody, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs would only say, "The police have concluded that it was an isolated incident."

But is that really true? Doubts remain as to whether the attack was not just the latest expression of anti-Japan feelings. Just this April, not far from where the attack on the bus took place in Suzhou, a Japanese man was stabbed by a male assailant he did not know. He suffered minor injuries to his neck. The attacker was then arrested by the police.

Also, immediately after the school bus attack, Chinese social media were flooded with messages expressing approval of such attacks on Japanese people. 

CCP's Anti-Japan Education

For many years now, the Chinese Communist Party has been promoting anti-Japan education. Indeed, the situation will be even more serious if it is discovered that the perpetrators of these incidents were stirred to act as they did because of this propaganda. That would mean that it is no longer safe for Japanese to live in China or even travel there. 

Naturally, we want to continue to have interactions with good-hearted Chinese like Ms Hu. If that is to be so, the first thing required is full disclosure of the various incidents in Suzhou. That should be through public trials and other means.

At the same time, the Chinese government must work to thoroughly ensure the safety of Japanese in China. That also means sharing information affecting the safety of Japanese with Japan's Foreign Ministry and private companies in the country. 

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(Read the editorial in Japanese.)

Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun