Chinese erupt in nationalistic outbursts over captain’s detention

Demonstrators rallied outside the Japanese Embassy and marched through rain-slicked streets to the Foreign Ministry on Saturday, belting out the Chinese national anthem and hollering nationalistic slogans to protest the detention of a Chinese fishing crew by Japan.

A demonstration of any kind is relatively rare in China, and Saturday’s protest by dozens of demonstrators was a deliberately understated affair. The marchers were carefully monitored by rings of police.

Events that unfolded on the edges of the main event were more dramatic. China’s unruly Internet denizens threatened to infiltrate the demonstration for their own purposes; the government raced to downplay plans for the protest.

The struggle, much of which unfolded on the Internet before Saturday, gave a keen illustration of the razor’s edge walked by the Chinese government. It basks in renewed nationalism, but tries to keep a grip on any expressions of political discontent, including complaints that it is not being tough enough in international affairs.

Early this month, a Chinese fishing boat collided with a Japanese coast guard vessel off disputed islands claimed by both countries, and the Chinese crew was detained by Japan. To the outrage of the Chinese government and public, the captain is still being held.

In the days since, anti-Japan sentiment has been boiling in China’s state media.

The incident has soured relations between the two countries, spilling over into trade and diplomatic ties and dredging up lingering tensions over the status of the disputed islands.

Saturday was the anniversary of an incident that led to Japan setting up a puppet government in Manchuria in the early 1930s, a date that stirs bitter memories in China of Japanese occupation.

All week, the Internet buzzed with clashing reports of a planned demonstration Saturday.

Signs of official nervousness grew. Internet censors scrubbed message boards that contained posts about the demonstrations, or took them off-line. The organization that has been most outspoken in promoting China’s claims to the islands had its website removed.

By Friday afternoon, even Google searches for the Chinese name of the disputed islands, Diaoyutai Islands, had been blocked in both English and Chinese.

When the protest finally began, few government critics were in evidence. A trio of young men marched in matching red T-shirts printed with the face of Mao Tse-tung, leading chants of “let’s unite against the foreigners” and “crush the Japanese.”

“The government is not strong enough,” griped Zhang Chao, a 39-year-old advertising man. “The Chinese people have stood up and demonstrated, now the government should be strong as well, and use our cannons and guns.”

One of the few whispers of dissent came from a lone, slight man in a tan jacket who carried a sign complaining about official corruption. Luo Huanqiu didn’t care much about the dispute with Japan. He’s been pressing officials to better investigate the slaying of his sister, he explained, and a planned protest seemed a handy time to raise his voice.

“I’m always looking for ways to air my grievance,” Luo said. “Today there are a lot of people. If you’re just one person, you get arrested. It’s safer in a big crowd.”

The demonstrators were not allowed to linger long outside the Japanese Embassy. Instead, guided at times by police, the crowd wended its way through the streets until it reached the Foreign Ministry. Protesters stood across the street and shouted a few more slogans, pumping their fists all the while. “Chinese government, stand up!” they said. “Crush the traitors!”

And then it was over. The demonstrators wandered off into the rain, disappearing into a sea of umbrella-hidden passersby on the crowded street.

megan.stack@latimes.com