Monday, Apr 11, 2005
More anti-Japan protests in China over textbook
BEIJING, APRIL 10. Anti-Japan protests erupted for a second day in China on Sunday, as Tokyo demanded an apology and better protection for its citizens and interests a day after demonstrators smashed windows at Japan's embassy in Beijing.
Demonstrations have spread in China since Tokyo approved a new history textbook that critics say glosses over atrocities by its military in the first half of the 20th century, including forcing tens of thousands of women into sex slavery.
Beijing slammed the decision, calling the book "poison" for youthful minds.
Some 10,000 protesters surrounded a Japanese-run Jasco supermarket in the southern city of Shenzhen on Sunday, said the Japanese Embassy in Beijing.
They shouted "Boycott Japanese goods!" and some threw plastic bottles of mineral water at the store.
About 3,000 persons marched toward the Japanese Consulate General in the southern city of Guangzhou for a "spontaneous demonstration" and police were maintaining order, said an official. Police prevented demonstrators from getting near the consulate, he said.
Hong Kong Cable Television showed a huge crowd of people protesting outside a shopping centre in Guangzhou.
They were trying to knock down police barriers set up around the centre, and police were shoving the crowd as they struggled to contain it.
A correspondent said protesters threw eggs at Japanese restaurants as they passed by.
Boycott call
On Saturday, about 1,000 protesters hurled rocks and broke windows at Japan's embassy in Beijing, demanding a boycott of Japanese goods to oppose the new schoolbook. They also urged their Government to prevent Tokyo from gaining a permanent seat on the United Nations' Security Council.
China said on Sunday it had ordered anti-Japanese protesters in Beijing to stay "calm and sane" and mobilised extra police to maintain order but Japanese officials complained that not enough was done.
Japan's Ambassador to China, Anami Koreshige, called the incident "gravely regrettable" and called on Chinese authorities to protect Japanese citizens and businesses, as well as the embassy and other consulates in China, an official said.
Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura also summoned China's ambassador on Sunday to protest the rally and demand compensation for damages. - AP
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