Police yesterday broke up protests against Japan in Lanzhou City, northwest China's Gansu Province.

The protest, numbering about 200 people, called for a tougher line by the government against Japan, following similar demonstrations by thousands of Chinese and Japanese last week centering on the Diaoyu Islands issue.

The demonstrators, consisting mainly of students, gathered in the city's central square and marched about 2 kilometers, unfurling banners and demanding a boycott of Japanese products, before police in riot gear halted them. There was no violence.

"We want to boycott Japan. Little Japan, return our Diaoyu Islands," said a university student, surnamed Li.

Sino-Japanese relations have been on edge since last month after Japan detained a Chinese fishing boat captain, whose boat collided with Japanese patrol ships near China's Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.

A smaller group of about 100 people reassembled for a second protest in Lanzhou after the first was broken up.

Dozens of police soon arrived and dispersed the crowd peacefully.