Tycoon offers Chinese cars for Japanese amid row

SHANGHAI (AFP) - A Chinese philanthropist known for his populist gestures has pledged to give domestically made cars to more than 40 people whose vehicles were damaged in widespread anti-Japan protests last month.

The protests erupted in cities across China last month over a dispute involving islets in the East China Sea, with some demonstrators targeting Japanese-brand cars.

Tycoon Chen Guangbiao, dressed in a lime-green suit and matching tie, on Wednesday showed off the dozens of Chinese-made Geely-brand replacement cars which he bought for a total of more than 5 million yuan (S$988,000), state media said on Thursday.

Some 43 people whose cars were damaged can swap their Japanese brands for the Geely vehicles to show their patriotism.