Over a thousand Japanese citizens held a protest rally, demanding that Takashi apologize to China for the "break-in" incident.

【Global Times Special Correspondent Yan Ge, Global Times Reporters Deng Xiaoci, Lin Zeyu】After a member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force was arrested for breaking into the Chinese embassy, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Public Security Bureau conducted a search at the Miyazaki Prefecture Ground Self-Defense Force base on the morning of March 29. Lu Chao, director of the American and East Asian Studies Institute at Liaoning University, stated in an interview with Global Times reporters on the 29th that the investigation into the embassy incident by Japan is currently limited to the police level, deliberately avoiding the serious diplomatic damage caused by it and the serious violations of international law. This fully exposes the arrogant attitude of the Japanese authorities in covering up the facts and shirking responsibility.

The Chinese side has repeatedly urged Japan to thoroughly investigate the case as soon as possible and provide a responsible explanation to China. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated on the 27th in response to the incident’s progress that the Japanese side has expressed deep regret to the Chinese side regarding this incident, but this is far from sufficient.

According to Japan’s Kanagawa Shimbun, on March 28, Japanese citizens held a protest rally in Shinjuku, Tokyo, opposing the cabinet of Sanae Takaichi’s push to amend the constitution. According to videos circulating on social media, protesters shouted slogans such as “The Japanese government should apologize for the Self-Defense Forces’ terrorist attack! Takaichi apologize! Koizumi apologize! China, I’m sorry!” urging the Takaichi cabinet to apologize for the incident involving Japanese Self-Defense Forces members breaking into the Chinese embassy.

Reports indicate that the protest was themed “anti-war,” with organizers claiming that about 1,400 people participated in person. Japanese netizens posted video clips on social platform X demanding an apology from the Japanese government and commented that they hope people overseas understand that the Japanese public also feels a sense of crisis, and such calls are naturally emerging today. While it’s true that “Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party won a landslide victory in the elections,” the statement that “the political actions of the Takaichi cabinet reflect public opinion” is completely untrue.

In fact, Japan’s mainstream media have noticed China’s dissatisfaction with Japan’s attempt to downplay the matter, but there is little reporting on the public’s calls for the government to apologize. Japan’s Asahi Shimbun reported on the 28th that the Japanese government generally does not wish to escalate the issue, with a senior Japanese government official believing that the matter “will not evolve into a major incident.” The report also mentioned that some within Japan’s Ministry of Defense are concerned that “this matter may become a political bargaining chip for China.” Liu Jiangyong, a professor in the Department of International Relations at Tsinghua University, told Global Times reporters on the 29th that Japan’s mainstream media are actively cooperating with the Takaichi administration for crisis public relations. They are attempting to downplay the issue, obfuscate the facts, and mislead the public.

While there has been no reflection on the dangerous trend of accelerating rightward shift and mismanagement of Self-Defense Force expansion domestically, Japan continues to strengthen its military presence in the Pacific region against China.

According to Japan’s Kyodo News, on the 28th, Japan’s Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi attended a joint memorial ceremony held by Japan and the United States on Iwo Jima and inspected the island. He declared to the media that in response to “China’s increasingly active military activities,” “strengthening the defense system in the vast air and sea areas on the Pacific side is an urgent issue.” He announced that in April, a special “Pacific Defense Concept Office” would be established to study the Self-Defense Forces’ defense system.