Foreign and Military Affairs
China intensifies protest over Diaoyu incident
By Bao Daozu (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-09-11 07:29
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BEIJING - China summoned Japan's ambassador for the third time in a week to demand the unconditional release of a Chinese fishing boat captain seized in waters off China's Diaoyu Islands.
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi made a solemn representation and protest on Friday to Japan's ambassador to China, Uichiro Niwa, on the fourth day after the incident.
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"(Yang) demanded that Japan unconditionally release and return the entire crew of the fishing boat, including the captain," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website.
The captain of the Chinese trawler, which collided with two Japanese patrol ships when it was being chased near the Diaoyu Islands, was brought to a court on Ishigaki Island in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture at about 1 pm on Friday despite China's strong protests.
Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue summoned the Japanese ambassador on Wednesday after Vice-Foreign Minister Song Tao summoned him on Tuesday. Both lodged strong protests and demanded an immediate release of the captain.
The Japanese Coast Guard (JCG) handcuffed 41-year-old Zhan Qixiong in suspicion of "obstructing officers on duty". He was handed over to prosecutors.
A local court in Okinawa granted on Friday a request by prosecutors for a 10-day detention through Sept 19 for the captain, Kyodo News reported. But the JCG also said the captain could go free if he acknowledged the allegation and paid a fine.
The remaining 14 crew members were kept onboard the Minjinyu 5179 trawler, which is registered in Fujian province.
The crew will return with the trawler in a couple of days after negotiations, according to Wu Tianzhu, the owner of the ship.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu on Thursday said Japan's so-called law enforcement over Chinese ships in waters off China's Diaoyu Islands is "absurd, illegal and invalid". She stressed that "China will never accept that".
The incident drew strong formal protests and condemnation by media in China.
China has said the incident could also damage bilateral relations. Civil groups protecting the Diaoyu Islands gathered and protested at the Japanese embassy and consulate in Beijing and Hong Kong. They said they were considering going to the islands to claim China's sovereignty.
A Chinese fishery law enforcement ship had been sent to the area to protect the safety of fishermen and their assets, Jiang said on Thursday. China's increasing protests are expected considering Japan's "absurd and stubborn action", said Beijing-based scholar Hu Feiyue.
"Japan is asking the captain to take the charge and pay the fine. It is a matter of principle that China will not accept such unreasonable demands," Hu said.
Xinhua, Reuters contributed to this story.
