Death of the Consular Officer of the Consulate General of Japan in Shanghai

December 31, 2005

With regard to the suicide of the consular officer of the Consulate General of Japan in Shanghai on May 6, 2004, we refrain from announcing its detail due to strong wish of the bereaved family. However, in the background of the suicide, we assume that there were regrettable actions taken by local Chinese security personnel, which were against the obligation of the receiving state under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
About the statement on the website of the Embassy of China in Japan on December 31 which said "The Japanese side expressed that the official committed suicide because of heavy pressure of work," the Japanese side has not expressed such a position. The Government of Japan, from right after this incident, has been requesting the Government of China to inform us of the relevant facts of this incident, and has expressed strong protests.
Also, we cannot accept the Chinese position which says "this incident has nothing to do with Chinese government personnel." Even though we are aware of such a Chinese position through the recent press conference by the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, there is no such fact that the Government of China made any explanation about the relevant facts of this incident to us prior to the said press conference.

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