China urges Japan to punish suspects in subway attack of Chinese national

The Chinese embassy has urged Japanese authorities to bring to justice the two suspects accused of assaulting a Chinese national on the Tokyo Metro and ensure the legal rights of Chinese citizens in the country.

A screenshot showing two suspects assaulting a Chinese national on the Tokyo Metro in Japan, December 2, 2017. [Screenshot: btime.com]

"We have lodged serious representations to Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and local police, urging them to impartially enforce the rule of law and severely punish the assailants," reads the embassy's announcement on Friday, adding "the Japanese authorities have promised to strictly follow legal procedures to investigate the case."

The embassy's remarks came after a video clip showing a Chinese commuter bombarded with a barrage of punches by two men in a train carriage was posted online and ignited widespread uproar among Chinese nationals in Japan.

In the footage filmed last Saturday at Tokyo's JR Akabane Station, the two allegedly drunken suspects, both believed to be Japanese, were seen giving the undefended victim relentless bashes and kicks until the police came to stop the brutal attack.

The assault continued all the way from the Nishi-Kawaguchi to Akabane Station despite the Chinese man saying nothing offensive to the enraged suspects throughout the journey, Guancha.cn reported citing a witness's Twitter post.

The attack reportedly caused a facial fracture and cerebral concussion.

"The victim has received effective medical treatments," the Chinese Embassy in Japan further noted in the announcement, adding it will closely follow up on any development in the ongoing investigation.

There has been no response from the Japanese authorities so far.