US Ambassador to China Gary Locke

US Ambassador to China Gary Locke Evan Vucci/AP

Chinese protesters surround U.S. ambassador's car, cause minor damage

'Down with the U.S. imperialists' and 'return our money,' crowd chants.

Chinese demonstrators in Beijing surrounded a car holding the U.S. ambassador to China as it attempted to enter the embassy on Tuesday, causing minor damage to the car, the Los Angeles Times reports .

A YouTube video shows more than 30 protesters throwing water bottles at Ambassador Gary Locke’s car and waving Chinese flags, while chanting “down with the U.S. imperialists” and “return our money,” possibly in reference to American Treasury bonds.

Chinese police quickly surrounded the car and security guards escorted the vehicle away from the angry demonstrators until it sped into the embassy.

A State Department spokesman told the Times that Locke was unharmed in the incident, and said the U.S. shared its concern with China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.