Surging demand for fuel in China’s southern province of Guangdong, an export-oriented manufacturing centre, has led to severe shortages of petrol and diesel, prompting officials to impose rationing, news reports said today.

China refused to apologise today for three weekends of violent anti-Japanese demonstrations that damaged Tokyo’s Beijing embassy and a consulate in protests over Japan’s wartime history and campaign for a permanent UN Security Council seat.

COURT in southern China has jailed five workers following protests at a Taiwanese-owned factory making name-brand shoes, a labour rights group said yesterday.