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Ai Weiwei calls anti-Japan protests ‘prepared by officials’
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Anti-Japan protests in China were encouraged by leaders in Beijing, dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei said on Thursday, after he videoed demonstrators damaging the US ambassador’s car.
Ai was visiting a friend’s apartment near the US embassy in Beijing – which is close to Japan’s mission – when he heard the protest and began recording, he said.
The internationally acclaimed artist said he was “surprised” to see a group of 50 protesters target US Ambassador Gary Locke’s vehicle, surrounding it and damaging its flag.
They pelted it with objects before Chinese police rushed to clear a path for the car to accelerate away from the embassy area.
“I was quite surprised because we all can see the whole demonstration [against Japan] being prepared by officials,” said Ai, who spent 81 days in jail last year as police rounded up dissidents.
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