TOKYO: Japan`s prime minister demanded an explanation from Beijing on Thursday about the fatal stabbing of a Japanese schoolboy in Shenzhen and urged China to ensure the safety of Japanese citizens.

Wednesday`s attack, on the anniversary of a notorious 1931 incident in the run-up to Japan`s occupation of Manchuria, came against a backdrop of worsening bilateral relations.

Beijing responded by expressing condolences for the killing, calling it an isolated incident that `could happen in any country`. While the motivation of the assailant remained unclear, Japanese officials have urged increased security around Japanese schools in China.

`For now, we will strongly urge China to provide an explanation about the facts of what happened. Since it`s been more than a day since the incident happened, we expect them to offer an explanation as soon as possible,` Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said, calling the attack `extremely despicable`.

`A case like this must not be repeated. We will strongly call on China to ensure the safety of Japanese citizens and prevent a recurrence, while at the same time, doing everything doable in our capacity as the government,` Kishida told reporters. Police in Shenzhen said a man had attacked a minor on Wednesday morning and the child was rushed to hospital. The suspect, a 44-year-old man, was detained, they said.

Japanese media reported that the boy was a 10-yearold Japanese national living in the southern Chinese city, and was attacked near a Japanese school.

Beijing on Thursday expressed `regret and sadness` over the `unfortunate incident`. `We mourn the passing of the boy and express our condolences to his family, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a regular press conference. Asked if the incident was isolated, Lin said that according to `the current understanding of the situation, this is an individual case`.

`Similar cases could happen in any country,` he told reporters.-AFP