Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura summoned China's ambassador on Sunday to lodge a protest and demand an apology and compensation following a violent anti-Japan rally in Beijing the day before, as a simmering diplomatic row threatened to further erode ties between the Asian heavyweights. Machimura lodged Tokyo's protest with Chinese Ambassador Wang Yi at the Foreign Ministry, urging Beijing to take steps to prevent attacks against Japanese. "The vandalism took place not only at the Japanese Embassy and the ambassador's official residence but also at (Japanese) companies and shops. I told him (Wang) that the vandalism is an extremely serious problem," Machimura told reporters. Tokyo also asked for a formal apology, compensation for damages and assurances that Beijing would protect Japanese nationals and prevent a recurrence, he added. Machimura said Wang replied that both sides should stay "calm" and not let the incident hurt ties. Wang later told reporters that Beijing didn't support the violence.
