Wearing a camouflage flak jacket at a counter shaped like a Chinese aircraft carrier, the manager of Beijing's Diaoyu Islands Malatang Noodle Shop insists nevertheless that Japanese friends are welcome.

Wearing a camouflage flak jacket at a counter shaped like a Chinese aircraft carrier, the manager of Beijing's Diaoyu Islands Malatang Noodle Shop insists nevertheless that Japanese friends are welcome.

The two countries are at loggerheads over the East China Sea islets.

Owner Lu He's nationalist fervor is evident throughout the restaurant, replete with replica machine guns and national flags and a central counter modeled on China's first aircraft carrier the Liaoning.

"We just have our stance," he said, gesturing towards the heart behind his fake body armor. "The Diaoyu Islands belong to China, and this claim is made with our patriotic passion."

His wife and co-owner Zhang Yanchunzi, dressed in a military officer's tunic, added: "'Diaoyu Islands belong to China' was a phrase engraved deeply on our minds when we were young kids. So this matter is quite important to me, and to Chinese people."

Lu is embroiled in a row with his property managers. He says they removed an advertising board for fear it could harm relations with Japanese tenants.

"It was not like what other (restaurants) said, 'Japanese people and dogs are not allowed to enter'," Lu said. "We welcome people from abroad, including Japanese friends."

Customers eating delicacies including "Diaoyu hand grenades" (banana fritters) and "Diaoyu heavy artillery" (sweet potato balls) said they supported the manager.

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