The Chinese government on Saturday voiced serious concern over an incident in which Japanese police shot and killed a Chinese man in Tochigi Prefecture in Japan.

Reports in the Japanese media said patrolling police officers noticed two Chinese men behaving suspiciously on Friday afternoon.

Questioned by the police, the pair allegedly attempted to grab the police officers' guns, but the police shot one man in the stomach. He died shortly after arriving at hospital and the other Chinese man was arrested.

Sources with the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the government was closely monitoring the case.

Officials with the Consular Affairs Department of the Foreign Ministry had lodged representations with the Japanese embassy to China, and the Chinese embassy to Japan had contacted the Japanese Foreign Ministry, noting the Chinese government's serious concern.

Chinese officials have requested an immediate inquiry by Japan's authorities, keeping Chinese officials informed, to ascertain the truth and propertly resolve the issue.

The Chinese embassy to Japan is closely following the development of events, and has dispatched consular officials to Tochigi prefecture to investigate and to visit the arrested Chinese man.

Source: Xinhua