The rally, one of the biggest demonstrations by Chinese Canadians in about 50 years, was joined by Chinese communities from all across the country.

Ottawa resident Jeffrey Liu, 29, came out to show that he backs China and the Games.

"I'm here for the love of our nation, and to cheer for a peaceful Games with no politics," Liu said.

Harry Yang, 35, who rode the bus for four hours from his home in Toronto to attend the rally, said: "Those Americans ... I don't think they really care about human rights in China. They are just trying to give trouble to a potential competitor. It's only dirty politics."

Ling Wang, a 30-year-old medical researcher from Toronto, concurred, saying: "We don't want anyone separating our country."

Dan Wang, 35, of Montreal, said Canadian journalists need to travel to China in order to get an accurate understanding of what they are reporting.

In Australia, more than 5,000 Chinese people rallied in Sydney despite thunderstorms and rain on Sunday. The rally started from the Sydney Entertainment Center and ended at Hyde Park, about a kilometer away. They carried a large banner that read "Protect the motherland's unification and we want world peace."

In Hyde Park, they observed a minute of silence to pay tribute to the civilian victims killed by rioters during the March 14 riots in Lhasa.