BEIJING
Anti-Japan protests have been staged in China while disputed islands row between China and Japan deepens.
Thousands of protestors gathered in the Chinese capital of Beijing to protest Japan on the anniversary of Japan's invasion of north-east China in 1931.
While protestors were shouting slogans against Japan, Chinese police closed the street to traffic and pedestrians where Japanese Embassy is located.
Chinese officials made a statement for people not to resort to use of violence, and they also warned them via text messages.
Chinese used the social networks very effectively. Despite being weekday, thousands of people were able to gather in the city. During the day, Japanese companies pulled down the shutters of shops.
In Shanghai, the largest city by population in the People's Republic Of China, also a great number of protestors marched to the Japanese Consulate in the city. People chanted slogans against Japan over their stance on the disputed islands in the East China Sea.
Protestors were not allowed to pass by the Japanese Consulate by the Chinese police forces. They completed their demonstration under police supervision.
Meanwhile, China's Defense Minister Liang Guanlie met U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
Following the meeting Guanlie told reporters that they were monitoring the situation very closely.
"We reserve the right to take further actions, although we hope to settle the issue through peaceful negotiation," the minister Guanglie said.
On 18 September 1931, Japanese soldiers blew up a railway in Manchuria. They blamed the Chinese. Later the railway blast was revealed to be pretext for the invasion of north-east China.
Reporting by Ali Ihsan Cam / Tevfik Durul
