Hundreds of slogan-chanting Taiwanese activists and their supporters rallied against Japan on Sunday amid an ongoing territorial dispute over an island group in the East China Sea.
The demonstrators from several right-wing parties and civil groups called for a boycott of Japanese goods as they were marching past a department store known for its sales of Japanese-made items.
“Down with Japanese imperialism!”, “Diaoyutai is ours, Japanese get out of Diaoyutai!” the crowd shouted, referring to the Chinese name for the islands that the Japanese call Senkaku. They unfurled banners and clutched anti-Japanese placards during the peaceful march.
The island group is controlled by Japan and is also claimed by Beijing and Taiwan. The uninhabited islands lie 400 kilometres from the Okinawan capital of Naha and 200 kilometres from Taiwan.
Apparently mindful of the growing clout of China and the island’s fast-improving ties with Beijing, the demonstrators called for co-operation with the mainland to solve the territorial dispute.
Television images showed an activist waving a huge Chinese national flag to highlight the controversial appeal.