Japanese opposition leader urges gov't to apologize to China over embassy intrusion

TOKYO, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Yuichiro Tamaki, head of Japan's opposition Democratic Party for the People, has said that the Japanese government should apologize to China following a shocking incident in which a Self-Defense Forces officer forcibly entered the Chinese embassy in Tokyo with a knife.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Tamaki described the incident as a serious matter that should never have happened, urging the government to handle it with full accountability.

Tamaki stressed that Japan had failed to fulfill its responsibility to ensure the safety and security of the Chinese diplomatic mission and should therefore issue a formal apology.

On March 24, Kodai Murata, a 23-year-old second lieutenant in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, allegedly scaled a wall and broke into the Chinese embassy in Tokyo while carrying a knife.

The incident has sparked widespread shock and concern due to its severity and potential implications. However, the Japanese government has so far only responded by calling it "deeply regrettable," a stance that has drawn criticism.