CHINA/JAPAN: Tokyo says violence in anti-Japan protests across China is "regrettable" as China's Foreign Ministry says Beijing will protect foreigners after attacks on Japanese property and the U.S. ambassador

Record ID: 1404483

  • Title: CHINA/JAPAN: Tokyo says violence in anti-Japan protests across China is "regrettable" as China's Foreign Ministry says Beijing will protect foreigners after attacks on Japanese property and the U.S. ambassador
  • Date: 20th September 2012
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (SEPTEMBER 19, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF CHINA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN HONG LEI WALKING INTO NEWS BRIEFING MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, HONG LEI SAYING: "The Japanese should listen to the strong calls of the Chinese people and their unswerving w
  • Embargoed: 5th October 2012 11:22
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan, China
  • City:
  • Country: Japan China
  • Topics: Crime,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4NJZZ0G9GDECFWHYYJPXE80KR
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Japan condemned violence in protests which sprang up across China on Wednesday (September 19) but praised it's neighbours move to clamp down on the anti-Japan demonstrations over a territorial dispute.
    "No matter what the reason, violence is not something that should be allowed and it's quite regrettable that this has happened. I've said that here and we've conveyed that from our side through a wide variety of channels. So I believe that this is something understandable and this is just one sign that this has been taken into consideration," said Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura.
    Tension had run high on land and at sea, with four days of major protests in cities across China and Japanese and Chinese boats stalking each other in waters around a group of East China Sea islands, known by Japan as the Senkaku and by China as the Diaoyu.
    Japanese businesses shut hundreds of stores and factories across China, some sending workers back to Japan in fear the protests would get out of hand. Japan's Beijing embassy had been under siege by protesters throwing water bottles, waving Chinese flags and chanting slogans evoking Japan's occupation.
    Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has repeatedly urged Beijing to protect Japanese citizens in China.
    In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Hong Lei pledged to protect foreign citizens.
    "The Japanese should listen to the strong calls of the Chinese people and their unswerving will and determination to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity during these protests that have been taking place in China. Secondly, I would like to stress that China's government protects the safety of foreign institutions and personal living in China according to law. We will thoroughly deal with the related incidents according to their realities," Hong said.
    U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, on a visit to China, said Washington was concerned that these "disputes could lead to greater conflicts and to greater violence".
    Panetta said the United States takes no position in the territorial dispute between Japan and China, though acknowledges U.S. defence obligations in the event of an attack on Japan.
    "The current state of Sino-Japanese relations and the situation that has occurred over the Diaoyu islands has been entirely provoked by Japan alone. We have consistently demanded that on the issue of who has sovereignty over the Diaoyu islands, the U.S. honours its position and remains neutral," Hong said.
    On Tuesday (September 18), about 50 Chinese protesters surrounded and damaged a car carrying U.S. Ambassador Gary Locke, embassy spokesman Nolan Barkhouse said. The incident happened outside the U.S. embassy, which is close to the Japanese embassy.
    The U.S. embassy spokesman said embassy officials had registered their concern about the attack on Locke with the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs and urged the Chinese government to do everything possible to protect American facilities and personnel.
    Hong said China was carrying out an investigation into the attack.
    "The Chinese government has always earnestly fulfilled the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations and earnestly ensures the safety of foreign institutions and personnel in China. The related incident is an isolated case. The relevant Chinese department is carrying out an investigation and will deal with it appropriately," Hong said.
    Critics in China believe that a U.S. move to shift its strategic focus to the region has encouraged its allies like Japan to be more bold when dealing with Beijing.
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