Four American university teachers teaching in China were stabbed while visiting a park, U.S. officials said.
Jonathan Brand, president of Cornell College in Iowa, said in a statement that the college’s instructor and a Beihua University faculty member were in a park in northeastern China’s Jilin Province when Monday’s attack occurred. Private colleges in Iowa partner with universities near Jilin City.
It was unclear the extent of the group’s injuries and whether the daytime attack was targeted or random.
Iowa Rep. Adam Zabner told US media that his brother David Zabner was among a group of people visiting a temple in North Mountain Park when a man attacked him with a knife got them. David Zabner told Reuters he was “stabbed and injured in the arm while visiting a temple in the Chinese city of Jilin” and was recovering in hospital.
“I spoke with David a few minutes ago and he is recovering from his injury and doing well. My family is extremely grateful that David survived this attack,” Adam Zabner added.
A video of people lying on the ground covered in blood in a park circulated on X on Monday, but there was no trace of the image on Chinese social media.
Reuters identified the location based on background information in the film but could not confirm when the film was filmed.
Chinese authorities have not issued any statement on the incident, and Chinese media have found no reports.
The U.S. State Department said in a statement that it was aware of reports of the stabbing and was monitoring developments.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds wrote on Family praying at home.
Rep. Ashley Hinson, D-Iowa, wrote online: “Shocked by the brutal stabbings of multiple Cornell faculty members in China. My team has been working with Cornell Nair College remains in touch and will make every effort to bring these Iowans home safely.
U.S. Rep. Mariannette Jane Miller-Meeks of Iowa said she was working to contact the U.S. Embassy to ensure the victims received good medical care and returned to the United States as soon as possible.
The attack comes as both Beijing and Washington seek to maintain people-to-people exchanges to prevent a deterioration in bilateral ties.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced plans to invite 50,000 young Americans to come to China over the next five years, but Chinese diplomats say a U.S. State Department travel warning is preventing Americans from traveling to China.
The U.S. State Department issued a Level 3 travel warning (the second highest warning level) for mainland China on the grounds that arbitrary detention and exit bans may prevent Americans from leaving the country, urging Americans to “reconsider traveling there.” Some U.S. universities have suspended China programs because of travel warnings.
U.S. data show that there are less than 900 American exchange students studying in China, while there are more than 290,000 Chinese students in the United States.
AP and Reuters
