Steel Fence Protecting Japanese Embassy - photo: AP[/caption]To the right is a picture from the Associated Press of Chinese paramilitary forces using a portable fence to protect the Japanese Embassy from protestors, expressing anger at Japanese wartime occupation of China.
The US Embassy next door was also subject to some of the protests, with about 50 protesters surrounding the car of U.S. Ambassador Gary Locke and trying to block him from entering the compound.
The incident came amid heightened vigilance for American diplomats following violent attacks on U.S. embassies in Libya, Yemen and Egypt. The embassy said it has asked China's government to do everything possible to protect American facilities and personnel.
The large and sometimes violent anti-Japan protests that roiled many Chinese cities over the weekend were triggered by the Japanese government's decision last week to purchase some disputed East China Sea islands from their private Japanese owners. More demonstrations followed Tuesday, the 81st anniversary of Japan's invasion of China, an emotional remembrance that further stoked the outrage.
Due to China's censorship of the internet, Users couldn't search for "anti-Japan protests" on China's Twitter-like site Sina Weibo on Sunday morning, and many of the previous day's photos had been taken down.
According to the Japan Times:
[caption id="attachment_356" align="alignright" width="300"]
Protestors Against Steel Fence - photo: Japan Times[/caption]In the largest anti-Japan protests since China and Japan normalized diplomatic ties in 1972, more than 70,000 Chinese staged rallies Saturday in at least 28 cities to demand that Japan surrender the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands to China. The largest demonstration, in Qingdao, Shandong Province, attracted as many as 30,000 people and evolved into rioting as protestors torched as many as 10 Japanese enterprises, including a Panasonic factory. In Beijing, police deployed more than 100 officers as well as 100 vehicles around the Japanese Embassy to prevent protesters from taking violent action. But clashes ensued as an estimated 1,000 protestors busted barricades, blocked traffic and hurled plastic bottles and eggs onto the embassy grounds. Carrying Chinese flags, they chanted "Protect the Diaoyu Islands" and "Slap economic sanctions on Japan." When there are protests against China's government, the Chinese security forces clamp down hard, but these rallies appeared to have the tacit approval of Chinese authorities.
To each his own I guess. This portable fence work both ways actually, it keeps intruder in, but it could push the guards down as well. But this is a temporary fencing equipment that ensures safety, or not.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great point, Samuel. So what about a Wills Welding & Ironworks blog? By the way - if you visit gravatar.com you can create an avatar image that will appear with your comments.
ReplyDelete