Hero's welcome for activists freed by Japan
Source: Agencies |
August 18, 2012, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
JAPAN yesterday released 14 Chinese people arrested after landing on the Diaoyu Islands, a move China welcomed while warning against further escalation in tensions.
Five activists and two journalists arrived in Hong Kong by plane last night after they left Naha airport in southwest Japan at around 6:40pm.
They arrived to a hero's welcome. At Hong Kong's international airport, crowds of Chinese passengers applauded their arrival as the men carried Chinese flags and a banner carrying the words: "Successful landing on Diaoyu Islands."
The activists denounced Japan's actions as illegal. "The Diaoyus are a part of China," said activist Tsang Kin-shing.
They vowed to return. "We're thinking of when we'll set out on our next trip, and how," Tsang said.
Meanwhile, the remaining seven activists were heading home on their boat in a voyage that could take up to three days.
The protesters traveled by a fishing boat from Hong Kong to the uninhabited East China Sea islands. They were arrested on Wednesday after five of them, and the two journalists, landed on one of the five-island group with the aim of asserting China's territorial claim to the islands.
"This time, the Japanese government has quickly released the illegally detained Chinese people, a wise move to avoid a deterioration in Sino-Japan relations," Xinhua news agency said in a commentary. "But how to prevent the tension over the Diaoyu Islands from escalating, and how to avoid further harming Sino-Japanese relations, the Japanese government's next step is crucial.
"While respecting the historical facts and the feelings of the Chinese people, the Japanese government) must end as soon as possible the absurd 'buying islands' farce," Xinhua said.
Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara has proposed that the city's government should buy the islands from their private owners. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda wants the Japanese government to make the purchase instead.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said yesterday Japan's detainment of Chinese citizens near the Diaoyu Islands represents a serious violation of China's territorial sovereignty.
Any unilateral action by Japan that targets Chinese nationals is "illegal and invalid," Qin said, adding that any action taken by Japan will not change the fact that the Diaoyu Islands and their affiliated islets belong to China, nor will it shake the resolution of the Chinese government and people to safeguard the country's territory and sovereignty.
The release of the activists may relieve current tensions, but that may not last. A group of Japanese politicians are sailing to waters off the Islands this weekend to mourn victims of an accident at the end of World War II.
Five activists and two journalists arrived in Hong Kong by plane last night after they left Naha airport in southwest Japan at around 6:40pm.
They arrived to a hero's welcome. At Hong Kong's international airport, crowds of Chinese passengers applauded their arrival as the men carried Chinese flags and a banner carrying the words: "Successful landing on Diaoyu Islands."
The activists denounced Japan's actions as illegal. "The Diaoyus are a part of China," said activist Tsang Kin-shing.
They vowed to return. "We're thinking of when we'll set out on our next trip, and how," Tsang said.
Meanwhile, the remaining seven activists were heading home on their boat in a voyage that could take up to three days.
The protesters traveled by a fishing boat from Hong Kong to the uninhabited East China Sea islands. They were arrested on Wednesday after five of them, and the two journalists, landed on one of the five-island group with the aim of asserting China's territorial claim to the islands.
"This time, the Japanese government has quickly released the illegally detained Chinese people, a wise move to avoid a deterioration in Sino-Japan relations," Xinhua news agency said in a commentary. "But how to prevent the tension over the Diaoyu Islands from escalating, and how to avoid further harming Sino-Japanese relations, the Japanese government's next step is crucial.
"While respecting the historical facts and the feelings of the Chinese people, the Japanese government) must end as soon as possible the absurd 'buying islands' farce," Xinhua said.
Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara has proposed that the city's government should buy the islands from their private owners. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda wants the Japanese government to make the purchase instead.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said yesterday Japan's detainment of Chinese citizens near the Diaoyu Islands represents a serious violation of China's territorial sovereignty.
Any unilateral action by Japan that targets Chinese nationals is "illegal and invalid," Qin said, adding that any action taken by Japan will not change the fact that the Diaoyu Islands and their affiliated islets belong to China, nor will it shake the resolution of the Chinese government and people to safeguard the country's territory and sovereignty.
The release of the activists may relieve current tensions, but that may not last. A group of Japanese politicians are sailing to waters off the Islands this weekend to mourn victims of an accident at the end of World War II.
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