More than 20,000 protest in Shanghai
Saturday, April 16, 2005 Posted: 1137 GMT (1937 HKT) http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/as....ap/index.html
"Even though information was available beforehand to infer that there would be a demonstration, nothing was done to prevent it ... and we strongly protest to the Chinese government," Japan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
It denounced the "destructive and violent actions" of the protesters and called anew for the Chinese government to prevent a recurrence.
Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura was asked by reporters if he planned to cancel a trip to Beijing on Sunday.
"That option is not out of the question, but at present we are proceeding as planned," Machimura was quoted as saying by Akira Chiba, assistant press secretary at the ministry.
Anti-Japanese protests erupted Saturday in at least three cities, including a demonstration by 20,000 people in Shanghai, China. Protesters last week damaged the Japanese Embassy in Beijing and Japanese businesses, and attacked three Japanese students.
The tensions have been fueled by lingering Chinese anger over Japan's aggression during World War II and anxieties at Tokyo's new military and diplomatic ambitions, as well as a territorial dispute.
Last week's protests occurred after Tokyo approved a school history textbook that critics say whitewashes Japan's wartime atrocities.
Japan demanded an apology from the Chinese government and said it had not done enough to prevent the protests. Beijing, however, claims Tokyo is to blame for the passions because it has not properly atoned for historical wrongs.
The statement Saturday rejected Beijing's stance, saying such violence was not justified under any circumstances.
"The end result is ... that this much damage occurred because proper security measures were not taken," Machimura added.
Meanwhile, reports of threats and calls for caution surged in Japan Saturday amid the escalating tensions.
Kyodo News agency reported that an envelope containing white powder was sent to the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo Friday. The contents turned out to be harmless, but police were investigating the incident as harassment related to the tensions.
Earlier, two other envelopes containing a razor blade and empty shells from a pistol were also discovered at Chinese diplomatic missions, while vandals dabbed red paint on the Chinese ambassador's residence in Tokyo, according to Japanese police and China's official Xinhua News Agency.
The Chinese Embassy has lodged a protest to the Japanese government over the incidents, Xinhua said Saturday.
Chinese hackers are suspected of having launched cyber attacks on two Japanese government Web sites this week, and Kyodo reported Saturday that Kumamoto University in southern Japan filed a criminal complaint with police over a similar incident.
Japan's Foreign Ministry has issued warnings to its citizens in China about possible danger, and Japanese businesses with major operations in China are taking extra precautions.
The Asahi newspaper reported Saturday that Mazda Motor Corp., Suzuki Motor Corp. and Toshiba Corp. were canceling nonessential China business trips.
Toray Industries, a manufacturer of synthetic fibers, has warned its China-based employees against going out in company uniforms or handing out name cards, and also instructed them to use only trusted drivers for transport, it said.
Saturday, April 16, 2005 Posted: 1137 GMT (1937 HKT) http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/as....ap/index.html
"Even though information was available beforehand to infer that there would be a demonstration, nothing was done to prevent it ... and we strongly protest to the Chinese government," Japan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
It denounced the "destructive and violent actions" of the protesters and called anew for the Chinese government to prevent a recurrence.
Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura was asked by reporters if he planned to cancel a trip to Beijing on Sunday.
"That option is not out of the question, but at present we are proceeding as planned," Machimura was quoted as saying by Akira Chiba, assistant press secretary at the ministry.
Anti-Japanese protests erupted Saturday in at least three cities, including a demonstration by 20,000 people in Shanghai, China. Protesters last week damaged the Japanese Embassy in Beijing and Japanese businesses, and attacked three Japanese students.
The tensions have been fueled by lingering Chinese anger over Japan's aggression during World War II and anxieties at Tokyo's new military and diplomatic ambitions, as well as a territorial dispute.
Last week's protests occurred after Tokyo approved a school history textbook that critics say whitewashes Japan's wartime atrocities.
Japan demanded an apology from the Chinese government and said it had not done enough to prevent the protests. Beijing, however, claims Tokyo is to blame for the passions because it has not properly atoned for historical wrongs.
The statement Saturday rejected Beijing's stance, saying such violence was not justified under any circumstances.
"The end result is ... that this much damage occurred because proper security measures were not taken," Machimura added.
Meanwhile, reports of threats and calls for caution surged in Japan Saturday amid the escalating tensions.
Kyodo News agency reported that an envelope containing white powder was sent to the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo Friday. The contents turned out to be harmless, but police were investigating the incident as harassment related to the tensions.
Earlier, two other envelopes containing a razor blade and empty shells from a pistol were also discovered at Chinese diplomatic missions, while vandals dabbed red paint on the Chinese ambassador's residence in Tokyo, according to Japanese police and China's official Xinhua News Agency.
The Chinese Embassy has lodged a protest to the Japanese government over the incidents, Xinhua said Saturday.
Chinese hackers are suspected of having launched cyber attacks on two Japanese government Web sites this week, and Kyodo reported Saturday that Kumamoto University in southern Japan filed a criminal complaint with police over a similar incident.
Japan's Foreign Ministry has issued warnings to its citizens in China about possible danger, and Japanese businesses with major operations in China are taking extra precautions.
The Asahi newspaper reported Saturday that Mazda Motor Corp., Suzuki Motor Corp. and Toshiba Corp. were canceling nonessential China business trips.
Toray Industries, a manufacturer of synthetic fibers, has warned its China-based employees against going out in company uniforms or handing out name cards, and also instructed them to use only trusted drivers for transport, it said.
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