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China tough against Tokyo but reins in activism

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/china-is-tough-against-tokyo-but-reins-in-activism?utm_campaign=jt_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=jt_newsletter_2012-08-26_PM

AUG. 26, 2012

BEIJING —

“…Wu Qingjun is no dissident. In fact, this activist’s pet issue – China’s claim over a set of islands controlled by Japan – aligns him squarely with Beijing’s government. But that didn’t stop authorities from sending four agents to tail him.

As Beijing continues a tense war of words with Tokyo over a set of islands in the East China Sea, it is quietly reining in anti-Japanese activists at home, trying to keep them from staging protests that could threaten relations with Tokyo or even backfire into criticisms of China’s communist government.

The government’s sensitivity over protests that took place in several Chinese cities on Sunday over the set of islands – known as Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan – reflects its perpetual fear that allowing its people too much freedom to hold protests – any protests – could snowball into domestic dissidence….”

“…To save himself from the trouble of explaining the appearance of police to his neighbors, Wu said he decided to check into a hotel and inform the police of his whereabouts.

“I’m not hiding or fleeing,” said Wu, whose past experience told him the police would find him anyway….”

“…In Beijing, Li said he has been told not to attempt to travel to the islands. “It has become impossible,” Li said. “The biggest obstacle for groups defending the islands comes from the government.”

“The Chinese government is not used to any grass-roots organization, whether it is for environmental protection or AIDS,” Li said. The government is suspicious of such groups’ motives, he said…..”

“…“The government has no strategy to deal with the dispute with Japan. But whenever there are internal protests, it is quick to take action to ensure order,” Li said….”

August 26, 2012 - Posted by arclight2011 | Uncategorized