Chinese Man Sentenced to Death
A Chinese court has sentenced Zhou Jiasheng, 52, to death for a knife attack that injured a Japanese mother and her child and killed a Chinese bus attendant in Suzhou, eastern China, on June 24, 2024.
Zhou reportedly stabbed the three because he was in debt and did not want to live any longer. The attack occurred at a bus stop for a Japanese school in Suzhou. Hu Youping, a female bus attendant who tried to stop the attack, died of stab wounds days later. The Japanese mother and child were not seriously injured.
The incident was one of two stabbing attacks on Japanese children in China in 2023, raising concerns about increased anti-Japanese sentiment in the country. Tokyo asked Beijing to ensure the safety of its citizens in China.
The court ruling made no reference to Japan. Japanese officials present at the sentencing believe the crime was unforgivable and take the ruling seriously.
In September 2023, a 10-year-old Japanese student died after being stabbed near his school in Shenzhen. The Chinese government stated that other stabbing attacks involving foreigners in 2023 were isolated incidents.
In June 2023, a Chinese man stabbed four U.S. university instructors at a public park in Jilin, as well as a Chinese person who tried to intervene. In May 2023, a knife attack at a hospital in southwestern China killed two people and injured 21 others.
13 Comments
Eugene Alta
The attack on innocents is utterly unacceptable, and a harsh penalty is the right response to such a grave crime.
Noir Black
This sends a clear message that such violence will not be tolerated in China. Justice needs to prevail!
Katchuka
This is not progress; it's a backward step in dealing with violent crime. We need rehabilitation options instead!
Loubianka
Justice has been served! This man’s actions were horrific and he deserves the death penalty for taking an innocent life.
Katchuka
Too many lives were impacted by this man's actions. A strong penalty is necessary to honor those affected.
ZmeeLove
Kudos to the court for standing firm against violence. This sends a strong message about the consequences of such acts.
Muchacha
This is a crucial step toward ensuring safety and justice in society. We can’t allow violence to go unpunished!
Coccinella
What about the larger implications for international relations? Aggressive punishments contribute to a toxic narrative.
Africa
Shouldn't we be focusing on the safety of all citizens rather than putting one man to death?
Muchacha
Death is too extreme for any crime, especially without understanding the full context of the attack.
Bella Ciao
How can we celebrate a death sentence in a case that was more about personal issues and not terrorism? It's not justice, it's revenge.
Muchacho
This sends a message that violence is met with violence instead of addressing prevention and healing. It's concerning.
ZmeeLove
I stand with the court's decision! This kind of behavior deserves a strong punishment to prevent future incidents.