Japan rejects China's demand for apology in boat row
AP, Sep 25, 2010, 06.47pm
BEIJING: Japan strongly rejected a Chinese demand on Saturday that it apologize for detaining a Chinese fishing boat captain whose arrest after a collision near disputed islands plunged relations between the two Asian powers to their lowest level in years.
Japanese authorities released the captain, Zhan Qixiong, early Saturday and he was flown home to Fuzhou in China's southeastern Fujian province.
But hopes that his release would defuse mounting tensions were dashed when China promptly demanded an apology and compensation from Japan.
"It is unlawful and invalid for Japan to detain, investigate or take any form of judicial measures against the Chinese fishermen and trawler," China's foreign ministry said in a statement. "The Japanese side must make an apology and compensation for this incident."
Japan's foreign ministry said the demands were groundless and "absolutely cannot be accepted."
The captain's detention and investigation were "an appropriate and calm response according to our nation's laws," it said in a statement.
The diplomatic back-and-forth Saturday demonstrated that nationalistic sentiments stirred up by the incident show few signs of dissipating. Tensions have already affected business ties between the nations' intertwined economies - the world's second- and third-largest.
Zhan was arrested on Sept. 8 after his boat collided with two Japanese patrol vessels near a chain of islands called Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan. The islands, about 120 miles (190 kilometers) east of Taiwan, are controlled by Japan but are also claimed by Taiwan and China.
Japanese prosecutors detained and questioned the captain while they decided whether to press charges, though his 14-member crew and boat were returned to China.
AP, Sep 25, 2010, 06.47pm
BEIJING: Japan strongly rejected a Chinese demand on Saturday that it apologize for detaining a Chinese fishing boat captain whose arrest after a collision near disputed islands plunged relations between the two Asian powers to their lowest level in years.
Japanese authorities released the captain, Zhan Qixiong, early Saturday and he was flown home to Fuzhou in China's southeastern Fujian province.
But hopes that his release would defuse mounting tensions were dashed when China promptly demanded an apology and compensation from Japan.
"It is unlawful and invalid for Japan to detain, investigate or take any form of judicial measures against the Chinese fishermen and trawler," China's foreign ministry said in a statement. "The Japanese side must make an apology and compensation for this incident."
Japan's foreign ministry said the demands were groundless and "absolutely cannot be accepted."
The captain's detention and investigation were "an appropriate and calm response according to our nation's laws," it said in a statement.
The diplomatic back-and-forth Saturday demonstrated that nationalistic sentiments stirred up by the incident show few signs of dissipating. Tensions have already affected business ties between the nations' intertwined economies - the world's second- and third-largest.
Zhan was arrested on Sept. 8 after his boat collided with two Japanese patrol vessels near a chain of islands called Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan. The islands, about 120 miles (190 kilometers) east of Taiwan, are controlled by Japan but are also claimed by Taiwan and China.
Japanese prosecutors detained and questioned the captain while they decided whether to press charges, though his 14-member crew and boat were returned to China.