courtesy Creative Commons

Protesters attacked Japanese business, burned Japanese flags and marched in front of diplomatic compounds, reports the L.A. Times:

In the southern city of Guangzhou, demonstrators stormed into the first two floors of a complex that houses the Japanese consulate, breaking windows in a hotel and smashing a vehicle. In nearby Shenzhen, police fired tear gas and used a water cannon to disperse a large crowd of marchers. Japanese factories, grocery shops, restaurants and car dealerships were reported damaged in a number of cities, including Qingdao.

In Beijing, more than 1,000 marchers waving flags and carrying banners gathered for a second straight day in front of the Japanese Embassy, hurling water bottles at the building and chanting slogans such as “Knock down the little Japanese,” “Long live the People’s Republic of China” and “China will prevail.”

Police have been struggling to control the demonstrations, reports the Financial Times. Some officials are reportedly concerned the protest could destabilize the political transition in China.

Reach Senior News Editor Hannah Madans here.