Public anger in China grows over Japan's provocations

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Chinese citizens have gone on the streets to send out a strong message against Japan's continued attempts to infringe upon the sovereignty of Diaoyu Islands

On Saturday, demonstrations were held in more than 20 major cities across China as public anger grew against Tokyo's most recent provocations in its illegal claims on the Diaoyu Islands, which have always been a part of China historically.

Emotions gained momentum, especially in Beijing, Nanjing, Xi'an, Qingdao, Chongqing and Changsha, where protestors waved banners that urged the boycott of Japanese goods.

Observers described the events as a natural reaction, but cautioned that demonstrators must "assert sovereignty in an accepted manner".

The isolated attacks immediately prompted calls online for calm and a more rational approach, and warnings against breaking the law.

Liu Jiangyong, an expert on Japanese studies and the deputy dean of the Institute of Modern International Relations at Tsinghua University, also agreed that irrational moves will not go toward solving the situation, and may have the opposite effect.

"We are asking Chinese citizens to express their demands in a legal and rational way," a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. Spokesman Hong Lei had said on Friday that the protests were not directed at the Japanese people.

The Diaoyu Islands were seized by Japan at the end of the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95), but the islands were returned to China in key declarations following the end of World War II.

In spite of the historical facts, Shintaro Ishihara, the right-wing Tokyo governor, unveiled plans on behalf of the city government to "buy" the islands in April.

Prime Minister Yoshihito Noda joined the bid and announced in July a plan to "nationalise" the islands.

Tokyo said on Wednesday that the purchase of the islands from "private owners" was completed, a move that sparked strong protests from Beijing.

China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Li Baodong, met with United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki-moon on Thursday and filed a copy of the Chinese government's announcement of the base points and baselines of the territorial waters of Diaoyu Islands and affiliated islets.