Japan races to limit fallout from Chinese embassy break-in

Japan has moved swiftly to contain the diplomatic fallout after a member of its Self-Defence Forces broke into the Chinese embassy in Tokyo last week.

But observers and local media say the incident has given Beijing an opening to reinforce claims of rising militarism and anti-China sentiment in Japan.

Yoshinobu Kusunoki, commissioner general of the National Police Agency, on Monday called the break-in on March 24 “extremely unusual and serious”, adding that it “should not have happened”.

His remarks echoed those of Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, who earlier said it was “deeply regrettable that a member of the Self-Defence Force, who is expected to abide by the law, has been arrested on suspicion of trespassing”.

A car driven by investigators enters a Ground Self-Defence Force base in Ebino, Miyazaki prefecture, on Sunday in connection with the break-in at the Chinese embassy in Tokyo. Photo: Kyodo

The suspect, Kodai Murata, 23, a second lieutenant based at Camp Ebino in Miyazaki prefecture, was detained inside the embassy compound. He told police he wanted to “convey my opinions to the ambassador” – specifically, to urge China to abandon what he regarded as its hardline stance towards Japan.