Media calls for 'rational' protests against Japan's 'purchase' of Diaoyu Islands

Demonstrations broke out in at least 52 cities across China on Saturday against Japan's "purchase" of the Diaoyu Islands, some of which turned violent.

Thousands of people protested in cities such as Chongqing and Changsha, while the number of protesters in Beijing soared to over 20,000. Demonstrations even turned violent in some regions, with protestors breaking into and destroying Japanese-funded stores, according to Phoenix TV.

The demonstrations sparked discussion in Chinese media about "rational" ways to address the Diaoyu dispute.

The Beijing Youth Daily commented Sunday that resolving the Diaoyu Islands issue will be a lengthy process, so it is understandable that both Chinese and Japanese citizens would feel disappointed, anxious and impulsive as they wait for the outcome.

"Since it is impossible to immediately quell the anger of the Chinese public, the goal, rather, should be to guide them to resort to reasonable and legal patriotic actions," said the report.

The article urged citizens to stop smashing Japanese-run businesses and Japanese-made products owned by Chinese nationals, to help ensure the personal safety of Japanese in China and not to force others to boycott Japanese goods.

Shandong-based news portal Shipingjie.net echoed this view, adding that the physical safety and property of Japanese in China should be protected as long as the Japanese do not break Chinese law.

Failing to protect the legal rights of Japanese citizens living in China will undermine the image of both China and the Chinese people, said the report.

The Global Times (Chinese version) suggested on Saturday that Chinese youngsters could better serve the nation by shifting their patriotic energies towards the study and research of modern technology instead of boycotting Japanese-made goods like previous generations.

The paper also opined that Chinese enterprises should make efforts to increase their company's productivity in the name of national interest.

"The significance of the transition from 'boycotting Japanese goods' to 'substituting Japanese goods' is no less important than China surpassing Japan in GDP," said the article, adding that the transition might also have an impact on the difference between China and Japan in terms of national strength.

The Beijing Times suggested on Sunday that China should approach the Diaoyu Islands issue with confidence and patience.

China's gradual rise to power and the united strength of its people could guarantee China's sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands, said the report. 

The Beijing Times goes on to say that Chinese people should not be soft-hearted, but follow rational and reasonable principles in facing Japan's territorial challenge.

The article also called for China to win understanding and even support from the rest of the world regarding China's sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands.