Knife attack in Chinese park: 4 American college instructors injured in Jilin attack, motive unclear

The US State Department is monitoring the situation after four instructors at an Iowa college were attacked in a park in China's northeastern province of Jilin on Monday.

Cornell College President Jonathan Brand confirmed that the instructors were stabbed in a park in the city of Jilin in the province, where Beihua University, which has cooperative relations with the private academy, is located. the Associated Press reported Tuesday.

None of the victims were in life-threatening condition, according to Iowa Public Radio, citing one of the instructor's family members in a report published Tuesday, which added that the four were recovering in a local hospital.

A State Department spokesperson said Tuesday that the department is aware of reports of the incident, is monitoring the situation and has “no further comment at this time.”

The motive for the attack is unclear. Videos and photos circulating on social media showed four injured foreigners lying on the ground, with police and bystanders nearby.

Almost all footage and discussion of the incident has since been deleted in China, where social media platforms are heavily censored.

The park where the beating allegedly took place is 1 km from government offices. A police officer at the nearest police station said Tuesday he had “no comment” when asked about the incident.

Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief of the nationalist Global Times newspaper, said on social media platform X that he “condemned” the attack.

“Whatever the motive of the attacker, this incident is an isolated case in the broader context of Chinese society,” he said, adding that “general public sentiment towards foreign tourists in markets and tourist places [in China] is friendly.”

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a post on X that she was in contact with the Iowa federal delegation and the U.S. Department of State “in response to this horrific attack.”

Also on quality for their injuries, then leave China. in a medically feasible manner.”

According to the Cornell College website, its partnership with Beihua University began in 2018. As part of the agreement, Beihua funds Cornell professors to spend two weeks in China teaching courses, including computer science, mathematics and physics.

The incident occurred amid efforts by Beijing and Washington to ease tensions in their technological and ideological competition through cultural exchanges.

In November, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China was ready to invite 50,000 young Americans for exchange and study in the country over the next five years.

The outreach follows an agreement between Xi and U.S. President Joe Biden to promote expanded exchanges in education, students, youth, culture, sports and trade, reached during their summit in California last year.