SHANGHAI (AP) — A Japanese paper company whose factory in eastern China was targeted last weekend by protesters concerned about pollution says it has resumed production.

A spokesman for Oji Paper Group in Shanghai said the factory restarted Tuesday, but would not give more details.

Authorities in the eastern Chinese city of Qidong dropped plans for a waste water discharge project linked to the factory after thousands of protesters angry about pollution took to the streets last week.

Such confrontations are common in China given the heavy environmental cost of three decades of rapid economic growth, but are especially sensitive ahead of a once-in-a-decade leadership change planned for later this year.

Oji Paper said in a statement that the pipeline was meant to discharge already treated water fully compliant with government standards.