A territorial row between Japan and China worsened today after officials threatened to prosecute the captain of a Chinese fishing boat that collided with Japanese patrol ships near disputed islands.
Reports said Zhan Qixiong could face up to three years in prison if found guilty of causing the collision on Tuesday, but that he could be released without charge within days if he admitted obstructing coastguard officials. No one was injured in the incident and the Japanese boats sustained minor damage.
Zhan, 41, was handed over to prosecutors on the southern Japanese island of Ishigaki for questioning after his boat struck two coastguard ships near Senkaku, a chain of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea.
The territory, known as Diaoyu in China, is a focal point for competing territorial claims as Tokyo and Beijing step up their search for resources in the area. The Japanese-controlled islands, which are also claimed by Taiwan, are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and, possibly, oil and gas deposits.
The 14 other crew on the Chinese fishing boat were not arrested, but are being questioned as witnesses. China said today it had sent a maritime law enforcement vessel to the area, but it was not clear whether it would patrol the islands or collect the stranded fishermen.
Japan's coastguard said the collision occurred after Zhan ignored requests to leave the area and then refused to allow Japanese officials to inspect his boat.
China's state media warned that Japan's handling of the incident risked escalating tensions.
"A wave of indignation is brewing in Chinese society, which might snowball into a major public outcry if the Japanese authorities continue to take a hardline stance," the China Daily said.
China summoned Japan's ambassador twice in 24 hours to protest about Zhan's arrest and a small group of Chinese nationalists demonstrated yesterday outside the Japanese embassy in Beijing. Internet chatrooms have been buzzing with messages condemning Tokyo's response, with some calling for a boycott of Japanese goods.
A foreign ministry spokesman in Tokyo said Japan had a duty to investigate the collision, adding that its sovereignty over the islands was an "undeniable fact".
Both sides, however, said the incident would not affect diplomatic ties. "We will handle the matter firmly in accordance with the law," Yoshito Sengoku, Japan's chief cabinet secretary, said. "It is important that in Japan we not get overly excited."
