PRODUCTION at Swindon’s Honda plant is not expected to be disrupted despite protests in China.

Japanese car makers, including Honda, are bracing themselves for a rough period as violent protests over control of islands claimed by both China and Japan have flared up.

Japan’s three biggest manufacturers – Honda, Toyota and Nissan - have reported attacks on their dealerships in the eastern port city of Qingdao and halted production at Chinese plants.

Honda Motor Co has suspended production in China during the last two days in the wake of anti-Japan protests that have intensified over the weekend.

A Honda spokeswoman said the Japanese company suspended production on Tuesday and Wednesday at two factories each in the southern China city of Guangzhou and the central city of Wuhan.

Honda Motors has also seen its shares drop by 2.5 per cent as a result of the protests and closures.

The Nissan Motors’ shares also fell by five per cent in Tokyo.

Honda’s plant in South Marston is not expected to be affected by the trouble and production is due to continue as normal.

Honda spokesman Sam Tipper said: “Production has been temporarily suspended at Honda's Chinese car production facilities.

“There is currently no impact on production activities in any other regions, including Swindon."

The Swindon plant is only just recovering from a blip last year which was described as Honda’s most challenging period in its 25 years in Swindon.

The tsunami and earthquake crisis in Japan March, 2011, disrupted the production of electronic items in the country, while the worst floods for decades in Thailand meant Honda was unable to ship electronic chips and semi conductors, which have a host of uses, including sat-nav operation.

At the moment there are 50 new CR-Vs which are being produced every day at the plant and, providing there are no delays by the end of November, 450 CR-Vs will be produced by the factory daily.