Japan urges China calm response to anti-Japan protests

TOKYO, Sept 18 (KUNA) -- Japan has urged again the Chinese government to take every possible measure to protect Japanese nationals and prevent further damage to Japanese companies in China, Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said Tuesday, as anti-Japan protests spread to over 100 cities across the country.
"China should calmly respond to anti-Japan demonstrations from a broader point of view, as Japanese companies play a significant role in the Chinese economy and its employment," the top government spokesman told a news conference.
A number of Japanese makers, including plants of Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co., and retailers have halted operations in China over concern about employees' safety amid the anti-Japan protests.
Fujimura also said the government will render maximum assistance to Japanese firms for their economic damage if requested.
Tuesday marks the anniversary of Japan's 1931 invasion of Manchuria in northeastern China. Anti-Japan protests have erupted in China since last week, with some cases escalating to vandalism, looting and arson targeting Japanese factories, shops and restaurants.
The dispute between Japan and China escalates over islands in the East China Sea, with tensions reaching a new high after the Japanese government on September 11 bought three of the disputed islands from a private Japanese owner.
Both countries claim the small chain of uninhabited rocky islands, known as Senkaku Islands in Japan and Diaoyu in China, which lie in rich fishing grounds and waters thought to contain large deposits of oil and natural gas.
According to reports from Beijing by Kyodo News Agency, Chinese held anti-Japan protests in at least 100 cities on Tuesday, where people denounced Tokyo's recent nationalization of the Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands. As armed police tightened security around the Japanese Consulate General in Shanghai, about 7,000 protesters chanted slogans such as "Beat Japanese imperialism" and "Boycott Japanese products." In Beijing, about 5,000 people protested in front of the Japanese Embassy. Some burned copied photos of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, while others hurled eggs and plastic bottles into the embassy compound.
Beijing authorities have recommended that about 800 businesses in the capital's Chaoyang District not operate Tuesday. The protests came in response to calls on Internet sites to stage protests on the anniversary. It was the eighth straight day that Chinese have staged such protests in Beijing and Shanghai. Meanwhile, about 1,000 Chinese fishing boats are reportedly heading to waters near the islands in what may be Beijing's additional countermeasures over Japan's nationalization of the islands. In some cities, anti-Japan protests turned into ant-igovernment, anti-party demonstrations instead, striking out at the Communist Party's one-party rule, bureaucratic corruption, the widening wealth gap and scarce jobs for university graduates, Kyodo said. China claims the islands have been Beijing's inherent territory since ancient times.
Japan maintains the Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands are an integral part of Japanese territory and that there are no territorial disputes between the two countries. Taiwan also claims sovereignty over the islands, which are known as Tiaoyutai to the Taiwanese. (end) mk.rk KUNA 181013 Sep 12NNNN