Japanese Military Personnel Breaches Chinese Embassy, China Lodges Protest

A Japanese military personnel breached the compound of the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo. Beijing authorities, shocked by the incident, have lodged a protest.

In its response, the Japanese government, as reported by AFP on Wednesday (25/3/2026), stated that they “regret” the incident. A Japanese soldier was arrested by police in connection with the breach.

The intrusion incident further worsens relations between Beijing and Tokyo, which have deteriorated since controversial comments by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Taiwan provoked China’s anger.

Spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Lin Jian, said that Beijing was “very shocked” by the incident on Tuesday (24/3) local time. The Chinese Foreign Ministry also stated that the man who intruded into its embassy in Tokyo threatened to kill Beijing’s diplomats.

Lin stated that Chinese authorities have “delivered serious representations and a strong protest to the Japanese side” regarding the incident.

Separately, Japanese government spokesperson Minoru Kihara said that Tokyo authorities “regret” the incident involving a Japanese military personnel.

“It is truly regrettable that a member of the Self-Defence Forces (the official name of Japan’s military), who is expected to abide by the law, has been arrested on suspicion of entering the embassy compound,” Kihara said in his statement.

“The police have conducted an investigation to clarify what happened and have implemented necessary measures to strengthen security (of the embassy),” he said at a press conference.

“We will take necessary steps to prevent a similar incident from recurring,” Kihara added.

Separately, a Japanese police spokesperson told AFP that the intrusion suspect, identified as 23-year-old Kodai Murata, was arrested on Tuesday (24/3) local time. Murata was arrested on suspicion of trespassing after he forced his way into the Chinese Embassy compound in Tokyo around 9:00 a.m.

To police investigators, as reported by local newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun, Murata said he “hoped to meet the (Chinese) Ambassador to tell him not to make hardline statements.”

Murata added: “If that request is rejected, I want to surprise him by killing myself.”

Japan’s leading television network, NHK, reported that a knife was found at the scene.