TOKYO - The Japanese government on Wednesday said it regrets the arrest of a Ground Self-Defense Force officer on suspicion of unlawful entry into the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo, vowing to take measures to prevent such incidents from occurring again.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Japan has told China that relevant ministries will cooperate to respond appropriately to the Tuesday incident.
China has lodged multiple protests with Japan and called for preventative measures, Japanese Foreign Ministry officials said. The protests were filed by the deputy chief of mission to Masaaki Kanai, head of the ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, they said.
According to police, GSDF Second Lieutenant Kodai Murata was arrested on suspicion of unlawful entry into the embassy after he was initially detained by embassy staff. A knife believed to be his was found on the premises, police said, but no one was injured.
"It is truly regrettable that an SDF member expected to comply with the law has been arrested on suspicion of unlawful entry," Kihara, the government's top spokesperson, told a regular press conference.
He added it was also regrettable that the incident occurred despite police providing necessary security.
Police are increasing the number of officers at the site, Kihara said, adding further measures will be taken in accordance with their investigation findings.
The incident comes as ties between Japan and China have worsened following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks in November suggesting Japan could potentially respond to a Taiwan emergency with its Self-Defense Forces.
