CHINA: Thousands continue to rally in front of the Japanese embassy in Beijing, protesting Tokyo's purchase of disputed islands.

Record ID: 466764

  • Title: CHINA: Thousands continue to rally in front of the Japanese embassy in Beijing, protesting Tokyo's purchase of disputed islands.
  • Date: 16th September 2012
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (SEPTEMBER 16, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF JAPANESE EMBASSY SIGN OF JAPANESE EMBASSY IN BEIJING PROTESTERS MARCHING PAST POLICE VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING PROTESTERS WITH BANNERS AND CHINESE NATIONAL FLAGS VARIOUS OF RIOT POLICE AT EMBASSY GATE PEOPLE THROWING WATER BOTTLES AT EMBASSY RIOT POLICE PUTTING SHIELDS OVER HEADS PEOPLE THROWING BOTTLES BOTTLES HITTING RIOT POLICE'S SHIELDS RIOT POLICEMAN'S FEET AND BOTTLES PEOPLE PROTESTING RIOT POLICEMAN TAKING PHOTO, PROTESTERS IN BACKGROUND WITH BANNER READING: "THE DIAOYU ISLANDS ARE OURS"
  • Embargoed: 1st October 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Reuters ID: LVAD4SCMUH12DXFDNB2RW9P6TJCP
  • Story Text: Thousands of Chinese continued to protest outside the Japanese embassy in Beijing on Sunday (September 16), hurling bottles and other objects as hundreds of riot police stood by to keep order.
    Protests have taken place in cities across China following Japan's announcement on Tuesday (September 11) that it had bought islands also claimed by China from a private Japanese owner.
    Paramilitary police with shields and batons have barricaded the embassy since Saturday (September 15) morning, when they clashed with slogan-chanting, flag-waving anti-Japan protesters who at times appeared to be trying to storm the building.
    China's official Xinhua news agency said big anti-Japan protests were also held in the Chinese cities of Xian, Changsha, Nanjing and Qingdao on Saturday, and more were expected on Sunday.
    The long-standing territorial dispute between the two Asian neighbours escalated dramatically on Friday (September 14) when China sent six surveillance ships to the group of uninhabited islets in the East China Sea, raising tension between the two countries to its highest level since 2010.
    Sino-Japanese ties have long been plagued by China's bitter memories of Japan's military aggression in the 1930s and 1940s and present rivalry over resources - the islands, which Tokyo calls the Senkaku and Beijing calls the Diaoyu, are believed to be surrounded by energy-rich waters.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register