Ito-Yokado said its six stores in China are operating normally - two days after protesters opposed to Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council smashed windows at an outlet in the country's southwest.

"One of our outlets in Chengdu was attacked because it was near the site where protests were taking place,'' said a spokeswoman for Japan's second-biggest retailer. "No other outlets have been attacked and all outlets in China are operating as usual.''

Sino-Japanese tension has been growing, fanned by rivalry over a disputed, potentially resource-rich territory in the East China Sea and opposition in China to annual visits by Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to a shrine honoring soldiers, including convicted war criminals from World War II. Japan's bid for a seat on the Security Council can be blocked by China which, as one of the five permanent members, has veto power.

Other attacks occurred Sunday in Shenzhen, against outlets of Aeon, Japan's biggest retailer, and Seibu Department Stores, although the damage was minor, Japan's Foreign Ministry said Monday.

Japanese consulates in the regions around Chengdu and Shenzhen sought police help to ensure the safety of Japanese and Japanese businesses there, the ministry said.

Ito-Yokado's spokeswoman said the protesters had assembled near one of its two outlets in Chengdu, and had not specifically targeted the store. Damage was limited to several smashed windowpanes, she said. Employees at its six stores in China, including four in Beijing, are on alert against further attacks but are otherwise conducting business as usual, she said.

Tokyo-based Ito-Yokado intends to stick with its plan to open a fifth store in Beijing later this month.

Other recent anti-Japanese activities in China include a rally of about 2,000 people protesting against Japan's UN Security Council bid in Shenzhen Sunday.

Last week, a new Japanese high school textbook said to claim that Japan was a victim of Chinese and Korean aggression prompted calls for a boycott of products sold by Asahi Breweries, Japan's second-biggest beverage maker, in the city of Changchun.

BLOOMBERG