Chinese riled by Japan's 'purchase' of islands

SHANGHAI - Chinese people have been angered by the Japanese cabinet's decision to use reserve funds to "purchase" part of China's Diaoyu Islands.

The Japanese government signed on Tuesday a contract with the Kurihara family, who the Japanese claim is the "private owner" of the Diaoyu Islands.

The signing of the contract came shortly after the Japanese cabinet's decision to disburse reserve funds to "purchase" part of the islands despite strong warnings and opposition voiced by top Chinese leaders.

The decision lit a fuse to a blast over the Internet. Nearly 13 million Internet users followed or commented on related posts via Sina Weibo, Chinese Twitter-like microblogging service.

Chinese actor Wen Zhang said at a television awarding ceremony Sunday night that the Diaoyu Islands belong to China. His remarks, broadcast by the TV station of Hunan province, became the hottest topic on Sina Weibo on Monday.

"I always believe that the Diaoyu Islands belong to China. That's my belief. I never thought one day I would stand in the front of a classroom, telling an audience why the islands belong to China," said an Internet user "Gou Qi" who claimed to be a Chinese student at a US-based university.

Many other Chinese household figures joined in the protest activities, winning applause from Chinese bloggers.

Chinese entrepreneur and philanthropist Chen Guangbiao, known for his flamboyance and high-profile charity activities, published a half-page advertisement in the New York Times, declaring the Diaoyu Islands as Chinese.

During his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Sunday, Chinese President Hu Jintao seriously pointed out that China-Japan relations faced a severe situation due to the Diaoyu Islands issue.

Some Internet users appeal for military moves over the Diaoyu Islands. The PLA Daily, the media outlet for the People's Liberation Army of China, warned that Japan "should not play with fire".

China's two patrol ships set off Tuesday and headed towards the Diaoyu Islands to safeguard China's maritime rights and interests.

Also on Tuesday, rallies and protests broke out in several cities across China against the Japanese action of "buying" the Diaoyu Islands.

Chinese people also suggested not buying Japanese goods. More than one million Internet users have signed on Sina Weibo to boycott Japanese goods.

"I used to be a fan of Japanese goods. But now I think everything would be O.K. without Japanese goods," said Sina Weibo user "Mu Mu".

"The Japanese economy relies more on China than China on it. So if an economic war breaks out between the two countries, China wouldn't lose," said another user under the screen name of Denghuolanshanchuherenzai.

"We could play economic cards with Japan," said Ruan Zongze, deputy director of China Institute of International Studies.

Sales of Japanese brand automobiles have dwindled in China recently, partly because of the dispute over the Diaoyu Islands. Some Chinese experts believe such repercussion could spread to other industrial sectors, like cell phones, personal computers and home appliances.