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China nixes Japan trip as sea spat escalates
Source: Xinhua |
September 15, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA demanded yesterday that Japan immediately release a Chinese fishing boat captain and blamed Japan for the last-minute postponement of an official visit to Tokyo in an escalating diplomatic battle over a ship collision near Diaoyu Islands.
China demanded Japan immediately end "so-called legal procedures" against the detained captain whose boat was in a collision with two Japanese coast guard ships and return him safely home as soon as possible.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu, speaking at a regular press briefing yesterday, called it "an imperative matter."
On Monday, 14 crew members of the fishing boat were released and returned home on a charter flight to the southeastern Fuzhou City.
"It is imperative that Japan should immediately stop the so-called legal proceedings and allow the captain to return at once, safely," Jiang said.
The captain, Zhan Qixiong, is being held after a Japanese court approved extending his detention last Friday. Prosecutors can hold him for up to 20 days while deciding whether to take legal action.
China has already reacted strongly to Japan's September 7 seizure of the boat, dubbing it "absurd, illegal and invalid," warning wider relations could be at risk - and has now delayed an official visit to Japan.
Jiang said a delegation of the National People's Congress, China's parliament, postponed a scheduled visit to Japan.
The decision was made after "taking into consideration all aspects," she said.
Li Jianguo, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC, was scheduled to visit Japan for a five-day trip starting today at the invitation of the Japanese lower house of parliament.
"Japan stirred up the current grave situation and the Japanese side should hold all the responsibility," she said.
Last week, China called off planned talks over an undersea gas dispute in another part of the East China Sea.
Jiang said the Chinese people had expressed their rage after the incident, showing "their firm will and determination to safeguard China's sovereignty and territory."
Referring to a Japanese elementary and junior high school hit by stones in the northern city of Tianjin, Jiang said the Chinese government had always protected the safety of foreign organizations and people in China and would do so in the future.
"We do not approve radical activities and we believe the Chinese people will express their will in a rational way," Jiang said.
She reiterated that China's stance on Diaoyu Islands was "clearcut."
"Diaoyu Islands have been China's territory since ancient times and such a fact cannot be changed by anyone," she said.
"China was the first country to discover Diaoyu Islands and execute effective jurisdiction over the islands. China possesses indisputable sovereignty," she said.
China demanded Japan immediately end "so-called legal procedures" against the detained captain whose boat was in a collision with two Japanese coast guard ships and return him safely home as soon as possible.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu, speaking at a regular press briefing yesterday, called it "an imperative matter."
On Monday, 14 crew members of the fishing boat were released and returned home on a charter flight to the southeastern Fuzhou City.
"It is imperative that Japan should immediately stop the so-called legal proceedings and allow the captain to return at once, safely," Jiang said.
The captain, Zhan Qixiong, is being held after a Japanese court approved extending his detention last Friday. Prosecutors can hold him for up to 20 days while deciding whether to take legal action.
China has already reacted strongly to Japan's September 7 seizure of the boat, dubbing it "absurd, illegal and invalid," warning wider relations could be at risk - and has now delayed an official visit to Japan.
Jiang said a delegation of the National People's Congress, China's parliament, postponed a scheduled visit to Japan.
The decision was made after "taking into consideration all aspects," she said.
Li Jianguo, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC, was scheduled to visit Japan for a five-day trip starting today at the invitation of the Japanese lower house of parliament.
"Japan stirred up the current grave situation and the Japanese side should hold all the responsibility," she said.
Last week, China called off planned talks over an undersea gas dispute in another part of the East China Sea.
Jiang said the Chinese people had expressed their rage after the incident, showing "their firm will and determination to safeguard China's sovereignty and territory."
Referring to a Japanese elementary and junior high school hit by stones in the northern city of Tianjin, Jiang said the Chinese government had always protected the safety of foreign organizations and people in China and would do so in the future.
"We do not approve radical activities and we believe the Chinese people will express their will in a rational way," Jiang said.
She reiterated that China's stance on Diaoyu Islands was "clearcut."
"Diaoyu Islands have been China's territory since ancient times and such a fact cannot be changed by anyone," she said.
"China was the first country to discover Diaoyu Islands and execute effective jurisdiction over the islands. China possesses indisputable sovereignty," she said.
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