By Mao Daqing  

We certainly cannot forget that on September 18, 1931, the Japanese Kwantung Army orchestrated the so-called "bombing of the South Manchurian Railway" as an excuse to launch surprise attacks on several Chinese cities, marking the beginning of Japan's large-scale invasion of China. 

However, remembering history does not mean carrying past indignation to the present. Especially, how can some individuals take revenge on defenseless civilians for the crimes perpetrated by Japanese invaders decades ago? 

Just three months ago in Suzhou, an ordinary Chinese woman bravely used her body to protect the lives of two Japanese nationals in China, but tragically lost her own life. At that time, Suzhou police concluded it was an "isolated incident" and China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "China is one of the safest countries in the world. We always welcome foreigners to visit, study, do business, and live in China. We will continue to take effective measures to protect the safety of foreigners in China." 

From any angle, life is paramount, which remains the most fundamental value of humanity. Therefore, we must mourn the Japanese boy who tragically lost his life in Shenzhen on Wednesday, and offer our most sincere condolences and comfort to his grieving family. 

This is rooted in the basic compassion for life.

I would find it hard to believe, and even harder to understand, if anyone feels even a trace of pleasure, excitement, or satisfaction when learning about this incident. How is that person any different from a beast? To put it more bluntly, how are they any different from the Japanese soldiers who committed heinous crimes on our land all those years ago? 

When we look beyond this tragic incident, and even beyond the several incidents in recent months where foreigners have been harmed in China, and examine the situation from the perspectives of economy, culture, population, and international relations, we realize that the real victim in these unfortunate events is not only the individuals involved. The larger victim is actually China—this includes China's international image, many indicators of China's socio-economic development, and the values within Chinese culture that we once thought were unshakable. All of this will ultimately affect every individual Chinese.

Since the pandemic ended, the Chinese government has been trying in various ways to restore connections with the world, attracting overseas tourists to China through different means, helping more foreigners experience China firsthand, eliminate biases, and witness an open, inclusive, and powerful China. 

The results have been very positive. 

But all the effort we've put in could very well be in vain because of a few such “isolated incidents.”

A hard reality is that Japan is the Eastern country closest to the Western world. Whether through past economic ties or cultural exports, Western countries have a much deeper understanding of Japan. 

Through popular culture like anime, movies, and music, Japan has gained widespread global influence. These cultural products often transcend language and cultural barriers, making it easier for Westerners to connect with and understand Japanese culture. 

After these repeated "accidental" attacks on Japanese nationals in China, the negative impact on China's international image is hard to fathom. 

To some, “international image” might seem like an abstract concept, but behind it is the real issue of economic development, which directly affects the personal interests of every Chinese citizen. 

The great success of nearly half a century of China's reform and opening-up should be primarily attrtibuted to attracting foreign investment, breaking barriers, and fostering the integration of diverse cultures in China.

Shenzhen and Suzhou, the sites of the recent “isolated incidents,” carry significant symbolic weight: 

First, these two cities are among the most economically developed non-municipality or provincial capital cities in China. Second, during the early stages of reform and opening-up, these cities were models of foreign investment.

In 1984, the first joint venture in Jiangsu Province was established by a Japanese company in Kunshan. By the end of last year, Suzhou had attracted 175 Fortune 500 companies, nearly one-third of which were Japanese, topping the list of foreign companies. 

At the start of the reform and opening-up, China's late leader Deng Xiaoping specifically requested Japanese companies to invest in China, and Japan established the first wholly-owned Japanese enterprise in Shekou, Shenzhen, making it one of the earliest countries to invest in Shenzhen. By the end of 2000, Japan had invested in nearly 1,000 projects in Shenzhen, with an investment of over $3.7 billion. 

In recent years, due to various factors, the overall environment for China's economy has faced some challenges. Retaining foreign investment and preventing capital outflow has always been a priority for the Chinese government. 

At the beginning of this year, the State Council issued the "Action Plan for Solidly Promoting High-Level Opening-Up and Attracting and Utilizing Foreign Investment with Greater Efforts" to attract and utilize foreign investment through high-level opening-up. 

A few months ago, Shenzhen, the location of the recent "isolated incident," also issued the "Measures to Further Attract and Utilize Foreign Investment," calling for more opportunities for multinational companies to invest in Shenzhen.

Why does China need to retain foreign investment? 

Even without delving into macroeconomic logic, ordinary people should understand that the diverse investments and strong vitality of foreign capital in China greatly contribute to China's economic growth and employment rates.

After the incident in Shenzhen, it was reassuring to see that mainstream public opinion condemned the perpetrator and mourned the victim. This is the bottom line of civilization, an unshakable bottom line. 

However, in the broader public discourse, I noticed some very jarring voices. In the comment sections on social media, there were expressions of indifference to the right to life, distortions of "national grievances," and a reversed definition of Sino-Japanese relations.

We cannot ignore these voices in the broader discourse. These voices are the hotbed of what the Suzhou police referred to as an “isolated incident.” 

The incident in Shenzhen will have a profound negative impact on the psychological security of the foreign community in China and the trust between Chinese and foreigners.

If we do not actively address and guide these negative effects, the chain reactions they cause will inevitably affect China's economy and even the stability and unity of Chinese society. 

This is not an "isolated incident." This is a critical test of Chinese civilization and our shared national values. 

Once again, I mourn the tragic death of the Japanese boy.