Chinese law enforcers and media organizations are calling for rational patriotism following the international arbitration court's decision, which favored the Philippines over the communist country in the case about disputed territories in the South China Sea.

Videos have made rounds on the Internet showing netizens staging protests as they believe that the United States was behind the ruling. The Permanent Court of Arbitration stated that there is no legal basis to Beijing's claim to disputed islands and reefs in the South China Sea based on its nine-dash rule.

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According to the Manila Bulletin, furious citizens gathered outside restaurants holding up banners and shouting anti-US slogans in several northern provinces including Hebei and Hunan on Monday.

"Get out of China, KFC and McDonalds," one of the placards read. Another says "Join the boycott against the US, Japanese and Philippine companies, and be a patriotic Chinese," while blocking people from entering the restaurants.

A KFC employee in Chenzhou, Hunan, confirmed there had been some disturbances on Monday but noted that business was usual the following day, China.org reported.

The rally allegedly started last week in Hebei before it reached southern provincial capitals such as Changsha and Hangzhou. Officials in Jiangsu province have asked KFC to shut down to avoid disturbances, according to Sohu. Police officers were reportedly dispatched to maintain public order.

Meanwhile, law enforcement officers have reportedly closed roads going to the Philippine Embassy and opposed protests in KFC. In fact, some officers were seen tearing down placards outside a restaurant in China.

Yum! Brands Inc. in China has refused to comment on the issue.

The police have discouraged people from joining illegal protests instigated on social networking sites.

A resident in Tangsha, who works in Beijing, commented that protesters are "simply creating chaos in the name of patriotism," noting that "If KFC closes down, it's the locals who will be out of jobs."

Tagschina, Philippines, international arbitration, boycott, Yum! Brands, KFC