Protesters slam Taiwan at Japan's Beijing embassy

BEIJING, June 18 (Reuters) A small group of Chinese, chanting ''Lee Teng-hui is a traitor to the Chinese nation'' and denouncing the former Taiwan president as a dog, held a brief protest at Japan's embassy in Beijing today.

About 15 protesters -- outnumbered by police and reporters - denounced Toyko for letting the pro-Taiwan independence Lee visit recently, and demanded the release of a Chinese man arrested for throwing a bottle at the politician as he was heading home.

The group dispersed after about 30 minutes following the choreographed protest, during which they held up banners reading ''Support Taiwan Independence = DIE'' and pictures of the man arrested for attacking Lee, proclaiming him a hero.

Police cordoned off the road in front of the embassy and put up signs telling reporters where to stand.

''We are furious that such a righteous person has been arrested without reason,'' protester Zhao Ronglai told reporters. ''I hope the world's people hear the cry of the Chinese.

''The Chinese want peace, not war, but we cannot rule war out,'' added Zhao, who said he was from a group called the China Patriots' Association.

The 84-year-old Lee, despised by Beijing for asserting self-ruled Taiwan's sovereignty, went to Japan earlier this month on a trip that had threatened to chill an emerging thaw in Tokyo's relations with Beijing.

As he was leaving, Japan resident Xue Yi threw two plastic bottles at Lee, though they missed.

Both bottles were filled with soft drinks, and Xue is still being held by Japanese police.

Although both Beijing and Tokyo officially played down the impact of the visit, there is a deep swell of anti-Japan emotion in China stemming from its brutal wartime occupation.

In May, former forced labourers and at least one woman forced into wartime sex slavery held a similar protest at the Beijing embassy.

Beijing is wary of any public protests, even if the target is Japan's 1931-1945 invasion and occupation of parts of China, lest they spin out of control and turn against the Chinese government.

In 2005, a push by Japan for a permanent UN Security Council seat sparked sometimes violent anti-Japanese street protests in cities across China, with demonstrators stoning Japanese diplomatic buildings.

REUTERS RN PM1111