Posted on 04/17/2005 3:57:13 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
More than 30,000 people protest Japan in China's Shenzhen
52 minutes ago World - AFP
SHENZHEN, China (AFP) - More than 30,000 people demonstrated against Japan in southern China's Shenzhen city, a Japanese consulate spokesman told AFP.
The demonstrators gathered in separate groups outside the Japanese supermarket Jusco in this boomtown near Hong Kong Sunday, said Chiharu Tsuruoka, spokesman for the Japanese consulate in Guangdong province, where Shenzhen is located.
"There were five groups today. The first group of 1,000 arrived at Jusco supermarket at 10:30 am (0230 GMT)," said Tsuruoka.
"The second one with 10,000 people passed by at 11:00 am. A third one with 10,000 people gathered at noon. The fourth group had 500 people at 12:30 pm. The fifth one was at 2:00 pm with 10,000 people."
The different groups of protesters marched from Jusco down major thoroughfares in Shenzhen, he said.
Ping!
If you recall the rabid demonstrations in China when we dropped a bomb on their embassy (wherever it was) during the Bosnian war, I was sure they were on their way to the US by rowboat, etc, to beat us to death with bamboo sticks.
They were mostly students, then, and they appeared so mad that frothy spittle flew from their lips. Not kidding!
Lasted about three weeks, then nothing. Weird. Orchestrated by the government.
But they were protesting an errant bombing and deaths then, and now they're protesting revisionist history books in another country (although it is the hated Japan).
And, again, with gov't approval.
When Japanese nationalists' voices are heard by the government, someone, somewhere, gets angered, insulted, or worse. It's China this time.
The continuing message I get from China's several demonstrations is that the people, esp students, can get so emotionally worked up over relatively mundane issues. I just don't like to even contemplate going to war against people like that.
I agree. The posters and props all look too uniform and manufactured for this to be a spontaneous protest, definitely government collaboration.
Why? They die just like anybody else. China is a real paper tiger with all kinds of internal problems. Just look at China's history, they are heading for a fall.
Is that good or bad?
"China's not ready for the twentieth century much less the twenty-first"
Care to explain that one?
I read the blog entry. Interesting. They seem to have a lot of beef with their government. The whole protest is supposedly letting the steam out, relieving pressure among people. Are people going to calm down afterward, or look for more? It is an "interesting time" in China. So what will happen on coming May 4? That is another landmark day in China. I hear stories saying that there will be more to come on that day.
"Are people going to calm down afterward, or look for more? It is an "interesting time" in China. So what will happen on coming May 4? That is another landmark day in China. I hear stories saying that there will be more to come on that day."
Your guess is as good as mine. Things like that are always unpredictable in China and that is what makes it so fragile. There are so many reasons for the people to turn against the government if the mood strikes them. So the government had better do its best to keep all this energy focused on Japan or it could easily backfire.
Also, I believe the Chinese government has basically painted themselves into a corner with all this anti-Japanese sentiment they have been stirring up because if they don't respond against Japan in a way that satisfies all the people they've got fired up, that too could backfire.
As for May 4th, I've been hearing interesting things, but I imagine the government is anticipating as much too. We'll have to wait and see.
Yes these are interesting times in China. I had thought about leaving sometime around June or July, but I may stick around indefinitely if things continue to remain interesting.
Good old Haymarket Square Day? ;-)
Next they will be celebrating Guy Fawkes Day also... ;-)
Sometimes "DIPLOMACY" can seem like childish games
First, the Japanese Govt played "Baiting the Dragon"
Now, in response, China seems to playing "let's teach the Japanese Govt some really, really good ,Diplomatic KungFu moves", and with style
Sometimes "DIPLOMACY" can seem like childish games
First, the Japanese Govt played "Baiting the Dragon"
Now, in response, China seems to playing "let's teach the Japanese Govt some really, really good ,Diplomatic KungFu moves", and with style
sorry, accidently double-clicked
Did the protestors get a day off from work, or just an extra bowl of rice?
The article should read, "5,000 protestors among 25,000 Chinese agents".
Red6
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