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It's home at last from Japan for 14 fishermen
Source: Xinhua |
September 14, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
After China's repeated protestations, a plane chartered by the Chinese government flew 14 Chinese fishermen illegally seized by Japanese authorities from Japan to the southeast China port city of Fuzhou yesterday afternoon.
The fishermen were detained last Tuesday after the trawler they were aboard collided with two Japanese Coast Guard patrol vessels near Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea. No injuries were reported from the collision.
Dressed in T-shirts and casual pants, the fishermen disembarked from the plane and hugged their relatives who had gathered at Changle International Airport in the coastal province of Fujian.
"Our safe return is due to the work of Chinese society, including the Party, the government and compatriots from all walks of life," said Wang Guohua, one of the crew members.
He said Diaoyu Islands are Chinese territory and their detention by the Japanese authorities was illegal.
"For generations, we have fished in those waters and so how could they seize us?" he said.
The trawler, which was illegally detained by the Japanese side, also set off for home yesterday morning, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that the Chinese government has dispatched a fisheries administration ship to assist it.
China has repeatedly lodged solemn representations to the Japanese side about the incident.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said all Chinese people, including overseas Chinese compatriots, have denounced the moves of the Japanese side.
"All this fully illustrates the firm will and determination of the Chinese government and the Chinese people to safeguard the territory and sovereignty of our homeland," Jiang said.
Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and the local government of Fujian Province were also aboard the chartered flight to take care of the fishermen, she said.
The captain of the Chinese trawler, Zhan Qixiong, 41, is still being held by Japanese authorities for allegedly "obstructing public duties."
A Japanese court has ruled he be detained until September 19, a total of 10 days.
"The captain is still being illegally detained by the Japanese side and China strongly demands the Japanese side immediately let him return," Jiang said.
The trawler and its crew members were kept off Ishigaki harbor in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture since last Tuesday and China four times demanded their return. State Councillor Dai Bingguo, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and some other senior Chinese diplomats summoned the Japanese Ambassador to China, Uichiro Niwa, four times.
During his meeting with Niwa in the early hours of Sunday, Dai said Japan must make a "wise political decision" and free the trawler and crew.
Also on Sunday, China voiced its firm opposition to any kind of investigation by the Japanese side of the incident.
The fishermen were detained last Tuesday after the trawler they were aboard collided with two Japanese Coast Guard patrol vessels near Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea. No injuries were reported from the collision.
Dressed in T-shirts and casual pants, the fishermen disembarked from the plane and hugged their relatives who had gathered at Changle International Airport in the coastal province of Fujian.
"Our safe return is due to the work of Chinese society, including the Party, the government and compatriots from all walks of life," said Wang Guohua, one of the crew members.
He said Diaoyu Islands are Chinese territory and their detention by the Japanese authorities was illegal.
"For generations, we have fished in those waters and so how could they seize us?" he said.
The trawler, which was illegally detained by the Japanese side, also set off for home yesterday morning, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that the Chinese government has dispatched a fisheries administration ship to assist it.
China has repeatedly lodged solemn representations to the Japanese side about the incident.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said all Chinese people, including overseas Chinese compatriots, have denounced the moves of the Japanese side.
"All this fully illustrates the firm will and determination of the Chinese government and the Chinese people to safeguard the territory and sovereignty of our homeland," Jiang said.
Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and the local government of Fujian Province were also aboard the chartered flight to take care of the fishermen, she said.
The captain of the Chinese trawler, Zhan Qixiong, 41, is still being held by Japanese authorities for allegedly "obstructing public duties."
A Japanese court has ruled he be detained until September 19, a total of 10 days.
"The captain is still being illegally detained by the Japanese side and China strongly demands the Japanese side immediately let him return," Jiang said.
The trawler and its crew members were kept off Ishigaki harbor in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture since last Tuesday and China four times demanded their return. State Councillor Dai Bingguo, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and some other senior Chinese diplomats summoned the Japanese Ambassador to China, Uichiro Niwa, four times.
During his meeting with Niwa in the early hours of Sunday, Dai said Japan must make a "wise political decision" and free the trawler and crew.
Also on Sunday, China voiced its firm opposition to any kind of investigation by the Japanese side of the incident.
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