7-Eleven reopens stores after anti-Japan demonstrations

BEIJING -- Japanese convenience store 7-Eleven reopened its outlets in two Chinese cities Wednesday after briefly closing Tuesday amid widespread anti-Japan demonstrations.

All 180 7-Eleven outlets in Beijing and Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan province, reopened after Tuesday's closure to dodge potential vandalism, said Liu Yue, a deputy manager with the company's Beijing office.

"We are convenience stores that cater for the needs of ordinary people, and we shall provide services as usual," Liu said.

He said 7-Eleven stores in other cities in China did not shut down, and none of the shops suffered losses on Tuesday, the day the Chinese commemorated the 81st anniversary of the Japanese invasion of northeast China and mourned the war dead.

On Tuesday, anti-Japan protests reached a new high, with demonstrations erupting in many Chinese cities, fueled by Japan's "purchase" of part of the Diaoyu Islands.

Provoked by this, enraged Chinese mounted protests to support China's sovereignty claim over the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islets. A small number of protestors vandalized a few Japanese stores and smashed some Japanese-brand vehicles.