Japan is urging China to impose a strict punishment for last week¡¯s attack on a Japanese citizen in the Chinese city of Suzhou, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Monday.

¡°We strongly ask (the Chinese government) to strictly and fairly punish the suspect, prevent similar incidents and ensure the safety of Japanese nationals,¡± the top government spokesman said during a news conference.

According to Hayashi, the Japanese Consulate-General in Shanghai was informed by Chinese authorities on Friday that the suspect had been detained and would be punished under the law.

The latest incident occurred Thursday, leaving a Japanese woman injured.

In the same city, another Japanese woman and her child were attacked by a knife-wielding man in June last year.