Rally criticizes Japan’s failure to stand up to China

(TibetanReview.net, Oct04, 2010) Thousands of demonstrators marched through Tokyo's central shopping districts on Oct 2 afternoon, harshly criticizing China’s gross overreaction, and the Japanese government's handling of a recent territorial dispute in the aftermath of a collision Sep 7 between a Chinese fishing trawler and two Japanese coastguard vessels, reported Wall Street Journal online (USA) Oct 2.

"Japan should have arrested the ship captain based on international law, but they [China] knows Japan wouldn't do such a thing, so we are being underestimated," Toshio Tamogami, the head of Ganbare Nippon, the group that organized protest, was quoted as saying in an interview after his speech. He is a former chief of staff of Japan's Air Defence Force.

About 2,700 people were reported to have joined the protest, which began in Shibuya, one of Tokyo's main shopping neighbourhoods, to blast China's overly aggressive response to the boat collision. They were also reported to have criticized the Japanese government’s failure to stand up to China's pressure. The protesters were reported to be especially angry over Tokyo’s decision to release the Chinese ship captain and refusal to release the video of the collision.

The organizers were cited as saying similar assemblies were held in 30 prefectures nationwide.

No prominent political leaders were reported to have attended the event which the report said was peaceful. Former prime minister Shinzo Abe, known for taking a hardline stand against China, reportedly could not attend due to schedule conflict. He had attended previous events organized by the group.

"Stand up! Fight for Japan! Protect peace in Asia!" pronouncements blaring through megaphones and sound trucks were quoted as saying as the rally took off after the speeches.

Meanwhile, China's National Tourism Administration Oct 1 issued a travel warning for Japan, citing an alleged attack against a Chinese tour bus by Japanese right wing activists in the southern city of Fukuoka. There were no physical attacks, however. A motorcade of some 60 trucks of right wingers held an anti-China rally, blocking the path of tour buses carrying Chinese tourists headed back to a cruise ship after sightseeing in the city, Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper was cited as saying. The incident only delayed the group's departure by 30 minutes and no one was injured.

The Oct 2 rally in Tokyo was reported to have also attracted activists drawn to a variety of causes. They included a couple of people who distributed Free Tibet fliers, the report said.