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China to Japan: Prosecution will damage our relationship
Source: Agencies |
September 10, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
JAPAN will damage its relations with China if it decides to prosecute the captain of a Chinese fishing boat that collided with Japanese patrol vessels near China's Diaoyu Islands, Beijing warned yesterday.
The Chinese government also said it was sending a law enforcement ship to the islands in the East China Sea to patrol those waters.
The Japanese Coast Guard yesterday morning handed over 41-year-old captain Zhan Qixiong to prosecutors for further investigation to decide whether to officially charge him in the case, Japan's Coast Guard spokesman Masahiro Ichijo said.
China protested the arrest of the captain, twice summoning the Japanese ambassador in Beijing and demanding the Chinese vessel's immediate release.
"The Japanese side applying domestic law to the Chinese fishing boat operating in this area is absurd, illegal and invalid," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said yesterday.
Two Japanese patrol boats collided with the Chinese fishing boat in waters off the Diaoyu Islands on Tuesday. No injuries were reported from the collision, but then the fishing boat was intercepted by Japanese patrol boats.
"Japan should release the crew and vessel immediately and unconditionally so as to avoid an escalation of the incident," Jiang said.
Jiang emphasized that the Diaoyu Islands belong to China, and urged the Japanese side to "keep a sober mind" on the highly sensitive issue of territorial sovereignty.
"If not handled properly, the issue will seriously undermine the overall situation of China-Japan relations," the spokeswoman said.
Jiang confirmed that China had sent a law enforcement vessel of the fishing administration to the waters near the Diaoyu Islands.
"The move is in accordance with Chinese law and aims at maintaining fishing and protecting the lives and property of Chinese fishermen in the waters," Jiang said.
"Japan's illegal detention of the Chinese fishing boat and crew has sparked strong reactions from the Chinese people," she said, calling for Japan to face up to the seriousness of the incident.
The Chinese Embassy in Tokyo sent its staff to call on crew members, who were found to be safe and sound.
Stressing that China exercises undisputed sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands, Jiang said the Chinese government's will and determination to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity are unswerving.
She said it is a fact that China and Japan are divided as to which country has sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands. "We maintain the issue should be properly resolved through negotiations and on the basis of respecting the facts."
Japan's coast guard said the captain could be released in a couple of days if he acknowledges the allegation of obstructing public duties resulting in the collision and pays a fine. If not, he would likely have to stand trial.
Officials also were questioning the ship's remaining 14 crew members, who have remained on the fishing boat, the coast guard said. The crew cannot land in Japan because they do not have passports but are free to return to China, if the Chinese send a vessel to pick them up, it said.
The Chinese government also said it was sending a law enforcement ship to the islands in the East China Sea to patrol those waters.
The Japanese Coast Guard yesterday morning handed over 41-year-old captain Zhan Qixiong to prosecutors for further investigation to decide whether to officially charge him in the case, Japan's Coast Guard spokesman Masahiro Ichijo said.
China protested the arrest of the captain, twice summoning the Japanese ambassador in Beijing and demanding the Chinese vessel's immediate release.
"The Japanese side applying domestic law to the Chinese fishing boat operating in this area is absurd, illegal and invalid," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said yesterday.
Two Japanese patrol boats collided with the Chinese fishing boat in waters off the Diaoyu Islands on Tuesday. No injuries were reported from the collision, but then the fishing boat was intercepted by Japanese patrol boats.
"Japan should release the crew and vessel immediately and unconditionally so as to avoid an escalation of the incident," Jiang said.
Jiang emphasized that the Diaoyu Islands belong to China, and urged the Japanese side to "keep a sober mind" on the highly sensitive issue of territorial sovereignty.
"If not handled properly, the issue will seriously undermine the overall situation of China-Japan relations," the spokeswoman said.
Jiang confirmed that China had sent a law enforcement vessel of the fishing administration to the waters near the Diaoyu Islands.
"The move is in accordance with Chinese law and aims at maintaining fishing and protecting the lives and property of Chinese fishermen in the waters," Jiang said.
"Japan's illegal detention of the Chinese fishing boat and crew has sparked strong reactions from the Chinese people," she said, calling for Japan to face up to the seriousness of the incident.
The Chinese Embassy in Tokyo sent its staff to call on crew members, who were found to be safe and sound.
Stressing that China exercises undisputed sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands, Jiang said the Chinese government's will and determination to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity are unswerving.
She said it is a fact that China and Japan are divided as to which country has sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands. "We maintain the issue should be properly resolved through negotiations and on the basis of respecting the facts."
Japan's coast guard said the captain could be released in a couple of days if he acknowledges the allegation of obstructing public duties resulting in the collision and pays a fine. If not, he would likely have to stand trial.
Officials also were questioning the ship's remaining 14 crew members, who have remained on the fishing boat, the coast guard said. The crew cannot land in Japan because they do not have passports but are free to return to China, if the Chinese send a vessel to pick them up, it said.
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