Four American college instructors working in China were wounded in a stabbing incident at a public park, according to their employer. The instructors were part of an academic exchange program and were affiliated with Iowa’s Cornell College. Beijing confirmed on Tuesday that “four foreign teachers” had been attacked, describing the incident as “isolated.”
“All the wounded were sent to the hospital… and received proper treatment; none of them are in danger of losing their life,” spokesman Lin Jian told reporters at the foreign ministry’s regular afternoon press conference.
“The police preliminarily judged that the case was isolated. Further investigation is under way.”
“China is generally recognised as one of the safest countries in the world,” Lin added.
“China… will continue to take relevant measures to effectively protect the safety of all foreigners in China.”
“This isolated case will not affect the normal development of China-US people-to-people exchanges,” he said.
Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson expressed horror at the brutal stabbing of the Cornell College faculty members.
Governor Kim Reynolds stated she was coordinating with Iowa’s federal delegation and the State Department in response to the attack, emphasizing the need for prayers for the victims’ full recovery and safe return home.
A spokesperson from the US State Department acknowledged awareness of the stabbing incident in Jilin, People’s Republic of China. As of now, Jilin provincial authorities have not provided any comments on the attack.
