4,000 protest against China

Associated Press

YOKOHAMA, Japan

Thousands of demonstrators waving Japanese flags and shouting anti-China slogans marched Saturday against Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit for an economic summit that comes as a territorial dispute strains ties between the Asian giants.

Organizers said Saturday’s march in Yokohama, which took place under heavy security near the site of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit, drew about 4,000 demonstrators. Police had no official estimate of the crowd size.

Relations between Japan and China have plunged because of tensions over a ship collision near islands in the East China Sea that are controlled by Japan but also claimed by China. The islands are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and are regularly occupied by nationalists from both sides.