Violent anti-Japan protests in China spread to more cities
Overseas Chinese rallied in Houston and Chicago on Saturday to protest the Japanese government’s “purchase” of China’s Diaoyu Islands and voice support for China’s sovereignty over the islands.
The Japanese government Tuesday formally signed a contract to “purchase” part of the Diaoyu Islands, triggering widespread anti-Japanese protests in China and abroad.
About 1,000 people, organized by the Houston Diaoyu Islands Coalition, gathered Saturday morning at Chinatown in Houston to assert China’s ownership of the Diaoyu Islands and oppose the Japanese government’s provocative move.
Braving scorching sunshine, the crowd marched in the Chinatown area, shouting slogans like “Diaoyu Islands Belong to China,” “Protect Our Land And Rights to Fish,” and “Diaoyu Islands Should Not Be Covered by Security Treaty Between the United States And Japan.”
A jet plane, rented by China Peaceful Development Alliance-Houston, hovered above the marching crowd, with a meters-long banner hanging from it, reading: Diaoyu Islands Belong to China.
“We are here to voice our support for China’s efforts to protect its ownership of Diaoyu Islands,” said Steven Pei, chairman of Houston Diaoyu Islands Coalition.
Pei said people were participating in Saturday’s rally as individuals to show grassroots Chinese’ support for China’s ownership of the islands.
“We, as ordinary Chinese people, support every effort by the Chinese government to safeguard its sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands. Japan’s militarism and expansionism should not be given any chance to have its way,” said Pei.
“We are here to convey two messages,” said Becky Li, president of the National Association of Chinese Americans in Houston. “We support the Chinese government over the Diaoyu Islands. Meanwhile, we want to send a message to the U.S. government that it should take a neutral stand on the issue and should not harm the Chinese people’s feelings.”