China: Convenience stores in north-eastern China removed Japanese products, including beer made by Asahi Breweries, because of a controversy over Japanese textbooks for junior high school students that some say justify Japan's past military aggression, Asahi Shimbun mentioned on April 8. Reports began circulating on the Internet that eight Japanese companies, including Asahi Breweries Ltd., are providing financial support to the Japanese Society for History Textbook Reform (Tsukurukai).

According Asahi Breweries, a former employee who left the company years ago is involved with the society. The company itself has nothing to do with it. Asahi Breweries issued a statement in China denying the reports but the situation shows no signs of subsiding. This no doubt is because of the strong enmity among residents over the history and civics textbooks edited by the society.

Chinese activists meantime are campaigning to collect 30 million signatures for a petition to oppose Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. In Shenzhen, Guangdong province, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets. The demonstration was organized by a number of anti-Japanese groups, including some that claim the Senkaku Islands are Chinese territory.

These groups contend that the Japanese government and the Diet have not acknowledged this country's military aggression in China nor offered an official apology. Thus, they argue, Japan is not fit to become a permanent member of the Security Council.

These anti-Japanese campaigns are feeding off each other through television and the Internet and spreading across the nation. One Chinese scholar said the unrest was provoked by the demonstrations held in South Korea.

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