Beijing: Thousands of students in
southwest China on Saturday came out on streets to protest Japan`s
claim over a chain of islands in East China Sea that China
considers part of its territory.
More than 2,000 college students gathered in downtown
Chengdu, capital of the southwestern Sichuan province,
unfurling banners and shouting "Defend the Diaoyu Islands,"
"Fight Japan" and other slogans.
In Xian, capital of northwest China`s Shaanxi
Province, more than 7,000 college students marched, holding
flags, banners and shouting slogans such as "Diaoyudao is
China`s" and "Boycott Japanese goods."
The protesters sang the Chinese national anthem while
marching peacefully. Some set fire on Japanese national flags.
Last month, a Chinese fishing boat collided with
Japanese patrol vessels near the islands, sparking a
diplomatic row between the two countries. Both sides claim the
islands which are known as Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in
Japan.
PTI
