This September, on a Tuesday morning, a 10-year-old Japanese schoolboy was fatally stabbed near his school in the city of Shenzhen. The attack was committed by an unknown assailant.  The attack caused many reactions and outrage in both Japan and China, quickly escalating into a diplomatic crisis. While Japanese officials condemned the attack and demanded accountability and justice for the little boy, Beijing simply downplayed the incident. The attack was simply labeled as an “isolated incident” and an accident. The event has been the subject of heated debates on online platforms, highlighting extreme nationalist tendencies. 

The Japanese government has expressed concern that the attack was mainly driven by xenophobia. Japan’s foreign minister referred to the attack as “malicious and anti-Japanese”, which was fuelled by negative social media posts. Adding to that, some observers have highlighted that the attack occurred on September 18, a date that marks the anniversary of Japan’s invasion of Manchuria in 1931. Zhang Sheng, an author and professor, has noted that nationalist online commentators, who he refers to as the “little pinks”, wax nostalgic about the fanatical Red Guards. Rose Luqiu, a communications expert, emphasises that Chinese nationalism is a “state-endorsed patriotism” that emerged due to Beijing’s incessant warnings about foreign influence.  

The violent discourse seen on Chinese social media in the aftermath of the tragic murder is extremely concerning. Comments on social media like “ I have no opinion on how Japanese die if they don’t apologise for history”, reflect the dark side of nationalism. While it is crucial to remember past  atrocities in order to learn from them and to prevent them from ever occurring again, xenophobic sentiments on digital platforms only deepen division and foster hate. It is extremely concerning to see acts of violence like this attack, as they signal the harmful consequences of unchecked fanaticism. True peace will be achieved when we not only remember history, but also foster understanding and healing. Governments must take responsibility for constructive dialogue and prevent the spread of hatred. 

For years, the legacy of Japan’s invasion of Manchuria during World War II has fuelled tensions in China. Beijing has stressed that Japan never made amends for its wartime atrocities, and this unresolved trauma continues to be a lightening rod for digital nationalism. The incessant proliferation of harmful online comments has contributed to a rise of what some scholars are referring to as the “Cultural Revolution 2.0”, where ideological purity is aggressively enforced. This has led to a serious escalation of hate crimes in China. The attack on the Japanese schoolboy is the third attack in recent months, following incidents where a Japanese mother and her son were attacked and four American tutors were stabbed. Although the true motives of these attacks remain unclear, it does raise concerns about rising anti-foreigner sentiments in China. 

The tragic killing of a 10-year-old Japanese boy is sadly not an isolated incident, but a symptom of  growing xenophobic sentiments that have emerged under the influence of digital nationalism. The spread of hate and division is posing a significant threat to peace and security in the region, risking further diplomatic crises. It is evident that unresolved historical grievances must be addressed through open dialogue rather than by fuelling digital platforms with anti-foreigner hatred. True peace will only be achieved through bridges of communication and by fostering mutual respect.