BEIJING — Tensions between Asia's two most powerful countries spilled into the streets of Beijing on Saturday as thousands of people marched through the Chinese capital calling for a boycott of Japanese-made goods and condemning Tokyo's bid to join the U.N. Security Council.
Officials estimate that as many as 10,000 people joined the protest, making it the largest rally here since 1999, when demonstrators besieged the American Embassy after the U.S. accidentally bombed the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade during the Kosovo war.
Hundreds of police and paramilitary officers in riot gear kept Saturday's gathering under control, even providing buses to take demonstrators home. Though the crowd was mostly peaceful, some protesters threw bottles and rocks at the Japanese Embassy and smashed windows of Japanese businesses.
Public demonstrations are rarely permitted in Communist China, leading some to believe that the rally was as much a government-sanctioned move to send a signal to Japan as it was a spontaneous public outpouring.
Tensions between the two countries have been escalating over issues steeped in history and national pride.
Japan approved new textbooks last week that downplayed its military aggression during World War II, infuriating its neighbors, who say Tokyo is whitewashing its wartime atrocities. Beijing estimates that 35 million Chinese were killed or wounded during the Japanese occupation from 1931 to 1945.
In the same vein, China opposes Japan's attempt to gain a permanent seat on the Security Council. About 20 million Chinese are believed to have signed an online petition opposing Tokyo's bid. China is one of five council members with veto power and has rarely used its "no" vote to sway world politics.
"We hope China would vote no and not just abstain," said protester Liu Bei, 23, an office worker who had painted "Resist Japan" on her face.
The large turnout may also have been a testament to the mobilizing potential of the Internet and cellphones. Many of the protesters said they had found out about the rally through e-mails and text messages. Others simply joined on the spot.
"There was only about a thousand people when we started. Now look how many there are. It just snowballed," said one junior from People's University.
