China’s security runners not welcome in Japan

TOKYO - Japan will not accept Chinese security guards when Nagano hosts the Olympic torch relay, the chairman of Japan’s National Public Safety Commission said on Friday.
"We should not violate the principle that Japanese police will maintain security,” Shinya Izumi said at a press conference. ¢I do not accept the idea that they will run in Japan as they did in other countries.”
The torch arrives in the central Japanese city on April 26.
The Chinese security guards, wearing bright blue tracksuits and encircling the torch bearer, ran in London and Paris, where chaotic protests interrupted the relay.
Members of the unit were picked from special police units of the People’s Armed Police, China’s internal security force.
Beijing said the unit’s mission was to guard the flame, in keeping with practices of past Olympic Games.