Locke's car surrounded by angry protesters in China
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BEIJING -- Protesters angry over Japan's wartime occupation and its recent purchase of islands also claimed by Beijing surrounded the car of U.S. Ambassador Gary Locke and tried to block him from entering the U.S. Embassy on Wednesday.
Locke, the former governor of Washington state, told reporters Wednesday that Chinese authorities were "very quick" to move the demonstrators away.
"It was all over in a matter of minutes, and I never felt in any danger," he said.
Video shot from a nearby rooftop shows some pushing and shoving and several protesters throwing bottles at Locke's car before police moved the protesters away.
The U.S., a close ally of Japan, has said it is staying out of the territorial dispute.
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.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular news briefing Wednesday that the incident was "an individual case," but that China was investigating it.
Large and sometimes violent anti-Japan protests roiled many Chinese cities over the weekend, 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.
Though the anti-Japan demonstrations have wound down, at least temporarily, there has been no progress in resolving the territorial dispute bedeviling relations between the two Asian economic powerhouses.
The rhetoric on both sides has remained uncompromising.
China's future leader, Xi Jingping, told visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Wednesday that Japan's purchase of the islands was a farce, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.
"Japan should rein in its behavior and stop any words and acts that undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Xinhua quoted Xi as saying.
In Tokyo, former Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba said losing a piece of Japan would mean "losing the whole country."
The islands - called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China - are tiny rock outcroppings that have been a sore point between China and Japan for decades. Japan has claimed the islands since 1895. The U.S. took jurisdiction after World War II and turned them over to Japan in 1972.
Japan's government sees its purchase of some of the islands as a way to thwart a potentially more inflammatory move by the governor of Tokyo, who had wanted not only to buy the islands but also develop them. But Beijing sees Japan's purchase as an affront to its claims and its past calls for negotiations.
Beijing has sent patrol ships inside Japanese-claimed waters around the islands, and some state media have urged Chinese to show their patriotism by boycotting Japanese goods and canceling travel to Japan.
The islands are important mainly because of their location near key sea lanes in the East China Sea. They are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and as-yet untapped underwater natural resources.
Chinese state media have also reported that boats were headed to the waters around the disputed islands for seasonal fishing.
Hong, the foreign ministry spokesman, said such activities were within China's rights.
"The Diaoyu Islands have belonged to China since ancient times," he said. "It is totally legitimate and reasonable for Chinese fishing vessels to fish in relevant waters."
Locke, the former governor of Washington state, told reporters Wednesday that Chinese authorities were "very quick" to move the demonstrators away.
"It was all over in a matter of minutes, and I never felt in any danger," he said.
Video shot from a nearby rooftop shows some pushing and shoving and several protesters throwing bottles at Locke's car before police moved the protesters away.
The U.S., a close ally of Japan, has said it is staying out of the territorial dispute.
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.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular news briefing Wednesday that the incident was "an individual case," but that China was investigating it.
Large and sometimes violent anti-Japan protests roiled many Chinese cities over the weekend, 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.
Though the anti-Japan demonstrations have wound down, at least temporarily, there has been no progress in resolving the territorial dispute bedeviling relations between the two Asian economic powerhouses.
The rhetoric on both sides has remained uncompromising.
China's future leader, Xi Jingping, told visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Wednesday that Japan's purchase of the islands was a farce, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.
"Japan should rein in its behavior and stop any words and acts that undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Xinhua quoted Xi as saying.
In Tokyo, former Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba said losing a piece of Japan would mean "losing the whole country."
The islands - called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China - are tiny rock outcroppings that have been a sore point between China and Japan for decades. Japan has claimed the islands since 1895. The U.S. took jurisdiction after World War II and turned them over to Japan in 1972.
Japan's government sees its purchase of some of the islands as a way to thwart a potentially more inflammatory move by the governor of Tokyo, who had wanted not only to buy the islands but also develop them. But Beijing sees Japan's purchase as an affront to its claims and its past calls for negotiations.
Beijing has sent patrol ships inside Japanese-claimed waters around the islands, and some state media have urged Chinese to show their patriotism by boycotting Japanese goods and canceling travel to Japan.
The islands are important mainly because of their location near key sea lanes in the East China Sea. They are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and as-yet untapped underwater natural resources.
Chinese state media have also reported that boats were headed to the waters around the disputed islands for seasonal fishing.
Hong, the foreign ministry spokesman, said such activities were within China's rights.
"The Diaoyu Islands have belonged to China since ancient times," he said. "It is totally legitimate and reasonable for Chinese fishing vessels to fish in relevant waters."
People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
Maybe we should have let the Japanese finish them off in 1940.
 @Hagar Go YouTube Type 731,you will see why the Chinese and Koreans hate
the Japanese so much.Many people in America just have no idea how the Chinese
helped the U.S.fighting the Japanese before in Second World War,and how the Japanese
used chemical and germs warfare toward our troops,our allies' soldiers and chionese
civilians.Check this out !
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 @scychan That was then. In Korea, they forgot all about that. They have been lying to us and cheating us ever since. I never ever trust the word or handshake of a Chinese. Ever.
So i guess we should boycott china products if they are boycotting outside products also.
I would not let Locke in my driveway nether
Oh, guess we can start importing everything from Taiwan again. How uncivilized.....
The chinese government told him not to be so visible. Doesn't listen well. Never has.
We need to bring all our diplomats home while worldwide volatility is so high...
 @takncarabizniz No, that's when we especially need them out 'there.' The US is the only thing keeping certain powers from blowing each other up. It's the role of a the hegemonic power.
Kinda odd that a country that won't allow protests allowed this one to happen.... hmmm.
 @The WA Mama Kinda of like Russia shooting their mouths off pertaining to not needing U.S. Foreign Aid.... whatever. My only hope is that Locke bails out of China and returns home....
 @Funky-Munky Why is everyone so upset that the Russian Federation has now stated they don't need any of our foreign aid? I would think people would call that a success--they needed help in the 90's and now they no longer need it. Isn't that a success?
 @Funky-Munky Well, of course they want our cash. But not with the strings attached. A very proud country with a rich history that doesn't feel like they need to be subservient to anyone.
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While Russia will never be a close friend like England a strong Russia can be an opponent we can work with.
 @LockesChild  @Funky-Munky I am pleased they don't... America should always put America first... I have a feeling Russia truly desires our cash regardless...
The Chinese government is obviously stoking these foreign policy grievances to divert the public's attention from the weakening Chinese economy, and the lack of political freedom at home.
@hsk Yeah, right. I wish we were "only" at 8% Growth.
 @T_BONE_WALKER  @hsk When per capita income is only $5,200, 8% isn't that much.
 @T_BONE_WALKER  @hsk Yes, but you don't think GDP and incomes are related? Fine, China's GDP per capita is only $8,200, so again, 8% of that is not much. 8% of growth in GDP per capita for China equals only about 1.3% growth for the U.S. (which has a per capita GDP of $48,442)
@hsk Lol, when we talk about a country's economic growth, we are referring to it's GDP, not the wage rate of the citizens there.
 @hsk  @T_BONE_WALKER Actually, it's hundreds of billions at 8%.
China also claimed Tibet and Taiwan belonged to China and used their military to enforce it. Â
 @FBrumfield Yes, Tibet has been a part of China. See for yourself historical world atlas published before 1949:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-justice-and-responsibility-league/201202/euro-american-cartographers-tibet-was-part-china-p
 @FBrumfield China hasn't invaded Taiwan (yet).
Locke is in China? How'd he get off the island? Is he looking for Sun and Jin?
"The U.S. took jurisdiction after World War II and turned them over to Japan in 1972."
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That was a Big Mistake. If we'd have made them a U.S. territory then, all this trouble now would be moot. And we'd have had a nice, strategic base.
 @TheTruncheon If that had happened, then the Chinese ire would be directly pointed at us instead of at Japan.Â
 @hsk Like their ire isn't already? Com'n man....
 @TheTruncheon Yeah, look at their ire at us: They continue to do 100's of Billions of dollars of business with the U.S. This sabre-rattling is just domestic politics.  As long as our economies are so tightly tied together, there won't be any major rifts.
is that a Chinese replica Cadillac? Probably has a two cylinder two stroke under there...
So if this is between Japan and China why are we in the middle? Aren't we as friendly with Japan as we are in China? Time to bring everyone home to the USA and keep our money here also. No more aid!
 @DDGRight and no more electronics from China or Japan or Korea!  Don't ever go visit Paris!  Stop sending food aid to starving children in Africa!  Bury our heads in the sand!  That'll solve everything!
@hsk You want to send your money over seas go right ahead. There are enough people here in the USA that are starving and homeless that could use the money we send over seas.
 @DDG  @hsk Ah, okay, I see. You're one of those people who would have wanted the U.S. to stay out of WWII.   So do you never buy anything made outside the U.S.?  Where was the computer or phone you're posting from made?  Guess you've sent money over seas after all.
@DDG I don't think China needs any aid from us....we owe them way to much already.
@WhatTheHell68 Yet they do get aid from the US.
Looks like OWS - just a cheaper Chinese version - notice the use of Abacus not Apples... lol
We need to begin pulling out of countries that don't like us. Stop foreign aid also to those that hate us. Let's begin nation building right here at home. Lets close some our military bases abroad as the WW II and the cold war are over! Let's begin an immediate pull out of Afghanistan. It's time to quit being the world's policeman alone.Â
@HallandOates In additon, doesn't it concern you that the world's newest empire has sent "AID" to the states in the form of paying for wars and our debts? Study your history of Empires and come back here and tell us what has happened everytime in history that this has occured and what will happen here next?
 @T_BONE_WALKER  @HallandOates I agree with you. Look what happened to Rome when it was over extended and tried to rule the world. I listened to Jesse Ventura the other night while on CNN. He advocates us closing numerous bases worldwide as WW II and the cold war are over.I agree with him.
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I realize any "aid" we give has conditions. There's a reason why we choose to get militarily involved in some wars/fight while ignoring others (Rwanda, Syria, etc.). Most of the times it has to do with stealing their natural resources and spreading our corporations abroad.Â
@HallandOates It aint "aid" I guess you haven't caught on yet. When the Empire makes a loan that it knows cant be paid back, we gain another puppet state with natural resources that is used to make good on the "Aid" and provide another colony for the Empire (No country gets aid without resources to benefit business). This puppet state provides cheap labor to exploit, and a place for a new McDonalds. If they dont take the Loan and play ball, "they have WMDs" and "will attack us in our homes at any moment". Then we steal the natural resources and all 6 of the industries that control our government and our military recieve huge windfalls (Haliburton among hundreds of others). In Syria, the US has hired al-Oueda to disrupt the peace that two factions there have enjoyed and Iran hasn't attacked anyone since the late 1700s. We just havent bent their will far enough yet but, make no mistake we will be at war there soon. Those two countries are examples of countries that wont "Play Ball" with the empire so we will use al- Queda and the CIA  to destabilize and  put Syria into civil war and ride into the rescue (Rescue the natural resources for US corporations). This runs through our history for sometime now and its the same behavior at one time or another as the Greek Empire, Roman Empire, Spanish, French, UK, and amid many others in history, the Third Reich. The other thing we empires all have in common is after the money is gone and the war is lost the only asset left to use is the general population and history shows that they eat that up also before the final plummet. Â
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Did you really think we just ride around the world providing "Aid" for people while your own people starve in the streets and not lift a finger for those caught in the mortgage scam or help the unemployed? Thats funny! No, thats hallarious.Â
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"Fascism should rightly be called Corporatism, as it is the merger of corporate and government power.â --Benito Mussolini
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Benito knows what the US is, why not you?
Yeah, China is such a democratic state that protestors just spontaneously appear (and disappear). Right.
 @LockesChild Agreed.  I'd love to see anyone "prove" that these demonstrations are the spontaneous out pouring of the average Chinese citizen's outrage over the status of those tiny uninhabited islands.Â