The father sits on the floor at a local jewelry store after learning that his daughter has accepted the proposal from her Japanese boyfriend in Shanghai August 11, 2015. [Photo/China.org.cn]

How far would parents go when they find out their children will marry someone they dislike?

A father in Shanghai burst into tears after hearing his daughter had accepted a proposal from her Japanese boyfriend, China.org.cn on reported on Tuesday.

The father, believing the young Japanese man was not trustworthy, tried to put obstacles in the way by requiring the young man not return to Japan for five years if he wanted to marry his daughter.

But the Japanese man agreed and proposed to the girl after taking her to a jewelry store. The father ran after the couple to the jewelry store but failed to disrupt the proposal.

The father's reaction has triggered heated debate online. Some said that they can understand the father, considering some Chinese still hold hostile attitudes towards Japanese because they refuse to admit their wartime crimes.

Others, however, say that the father overreacted and he does not have the right to interfere with his daughter's marriage because of his personal feeling about the Japanese.