PM voices regret over Chinese anti-Japan protests

Japan's prime minister voiced regret Monday over anti-Japanese demonstrations in China that drew thousands of protesters over the weekend amid a simmering territorial dispute between the rival Asian nations.

"We told China that (the protests) were regrettable," Prime Minister Naoto Kan told fellow lawmakers in parliament.

Thousands of Chinese marched in the streets of several cities Saturday against Japan's claims on disputed islands in the East China Sea. TV footage showed that protesters smashed windows at a Panasonic shop and broke showcases at Japanese retailers Ito-Yokado and Isetan.

Kan said Japan asked China to ensure safety and security for Japanese citizens and companies in China. He said Japan and China must work "calmly" to improve ties that were strained by a September collision between a Chinese fishing boat and Japanese patrol vessels near the disputed islands, called Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese. Japan controls the islands but China and Taiwan also claim them.

China broke off ministerial-level contacts with Japan last month over Tokyo's detention of a Chinese fishing boat captain. Japan eventually released the captain, but Beijing shocked Tokyo by demanding an apology.

Earlier this month, the tensions seemed to ease after the prime ministers of the two countries held an impromptu after-dinner meeting in the corridor of an Asia-Europe summit.

Japans' Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku said Monday that the government is trying to set up a meeting between Kan and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of Association of Southeast Asian Nations gatherings later this month in Hanoi.