Rationality urged for students

BEIJING - The Chinese government has said that a show of patriotism is understandable in the case of the recent outrage over the incidents that happened near the Diaoyu Islands, but that it needs to be done in a "rational" way and within legal limits.

The comment came from Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu, on Saturday night, when asked to comment on the demonstrations by Chinese who took to the streets of Chengdu, Xi'an, Zhengzhou and elsewhere to support China's claim to sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands.

"It is understandable that some people expressed their outrage over the Japanese words and deeds," Ma said, "but patriotism should be expressed rationally and in accordance with the law. We don't support irrational behavior that violates the law."