Thousands of protesters gather outside the Japanese embassy in Beijing, as tensions flare over a territorial dispute.<br/> <br />Riot police were forced to barricade the embassy as demonstrators gathered, angry at Japan for buying islands claimed by both Beijing and Tokyo.<br/> <br />Scuffles broke out as protesters hurled rocks and traffic cones at police.<br/> <br />Known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, the island chain sits near potentially lucrative oil and gas fields.<br/> <br />The purchase of the islets by Japan from a private owner has brought tensions up a notch.<br/> <br />Six Chinese surveillance ships on Friday (September 14) briefly entered waters close to the island chain.<br/> <br />On Saturday (September 15) protesters also gathered in Shanghai and Japanese media reported small demos in other Chinese cities as well.<br/> <br />Japan's foreign minister cut short a visit to Australia to deal with the situation.<br/> <br />Diplomats say both Tokyo and Beijing want to keep the row from spiralling out of control.
