Diaoyu protests across China on anniversary of Mukden Incident
Thousands take to the streets across mainland on anniversary of Mukden Incident, but heavy police presence keeps demonstrators in line
Mass rallies were held in cities across the mainland yesterday as protesters renewed demands for Japan to give up the Diaoyu Islands.
The demonstrations also marked the anniversary of the Mukden Incident, the formal start of Japan's war with China and its 14 years of occupation.
Police sirens sounded in many cities at 9.18am to mark the anniversary.
The demonstrations were generally orderly due to a heavy police presence, though there were a few minor scuffles.
Tensions remained high in Beijing where demonstrators reacted angrily to reports that two Japanese activists had briefly landed on one of the uninhabited islands in the archipelago, which Japan calls the Senkakus.
"The unlawful landing of the Japanese right-wingers on the Chinese territory of the Diaoyu Islands was a gravely provocative action violating Chinese territorial sovereignty," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement.