Activists stage anti-China rally in Tokyo

TOKYO - A group of about 1,400 right-wing activists staged an anti-China demonstration here Saturday, vowing to defend the "Senkakus Islands" (Diaoyu Island and affiliated islets) and safeguard Japan's territorial integrity.

The activists, mostly males, the middle aged and elder, are from the "Ganbare Nippon! National Action Committee", a right-wing organization founded on February 2, 2010, which is headed by former Air Self-Defense Force chief Toshio Tamogami.

The participants divided in four echelons began their march from the Aoyama Park at around 3:00 pm local time, and proceeded to the Chinese Embassy in Japan located in the Minato-ku one hour later.

During the rally, they chanted anti-China slogans like " Senkakus belongs to Japan since ancient times", "Defend the Senkakus Islands to the last drop of blood", "China, stop invasion of Japan" and "Halt violence towards Japanes", to showcase their determination and guts to defend the islands. ?

It is the largest demonstration the group has organized since the flare-up of territorial rows between China and Japan over the Diaoyu Islands issue. ?

Thousands of angry Chinese people have taken part in protests in many Chinese cities this week against Japanese government's " purchase" of parts of the Diaoyu Islands and the "nationalization" plan.

The hostile attitude of the public of the two countries, if unchecked, is expected to further cast shadow on the already soured relations between the two neighbors.