Japan set to 'deport' Diaoyu activists today
Source: Agencies |
August 17, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
Japan has decided to "deport" Chinese activists who landed on the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea at the heart of a territorial row, Kyodo news agency reported yesterday, while China renewed its call that the detainees be released immediately and unconditionally.
Seven of the 14 Chinese nationals arrested, including two journalists, waded ashore and planted a Chinese flag on one of the rocky, uninhabited islands on Wednesday.
All the 14 would be sent home as early as today, Kyodo reported.
They have been arrested for "violating" Japanese immigration law. Kyodo, citing unnamed government sources, said they would be handed over to immigration officials "possibly Friday."
"They all deny the allegation of illegal entry, saying the islands are part of Chinese territory," a local police spokesman said.
Jiji Press said cabinet ministers would meet this morning to discuss the landing.
The five Chinese activists arrested by Japanese police after landing on Diaoyu Islands were sent to Naha, Okinawa yesterday.
The five handcuffed Chinese activists got off a patrol boat of Japan Coast Guard at Naha Port, shouting out, "Diaoyu Islands are Chinese territory" to Japanese media.
Soon after arrival, the five activists got on five separate vehicles. Okinawa police said they would be sent to different locations for investigation.
The authorities would determine whether to send them to public prosecutors or deport them after examining the purpose of their landing, police said.
The nine other Chinese were also transferred to Naha yesterday afternoon by the coast guard.
The 14 Chinese nationals, despite obstruction by Japanese Coast Guard patrol ships, arrived at Diaoyu Islands by a Hong Kong fishing vessel on Wednesday to assert China's territorial claim to the islands.
China dispatched embassy officials from Tokyo and Hong Kong immigration officials to assist the activists. The five who landed on the islands were in good condition, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said last night.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun, in a phone call with a Japanese foreign ministry official yesterday, urged that Japan immediately and unconditionally release the people and the vessel.
Small protests were held sporadically amid tight security near Japan's embassy in Beijing and Japanese consulate in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
A handful of protesters shouted anti-Japanese slogans outside the embassy in Beijing yesterday.
Dozens of people protested at the Japanese consulate in Hong Kong yesterday, demanding Japan release the Chinese nationals.
Members of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions waved Chinese flags and chanted slogans such as "Down with Japanese militarism" and "Get out of our Diaoyu Islands."
In Shanghai, around 20 people waved Chinese flags, hoisted banners that read "return our Diaoyu Islands, release our brave warriors," and shouted slogans outside the Japanese consulate.
A Japanese nationalist group is sponsoring a weekend trip by some lawmakers and others to waters near the Diaoyu Island, although the Japanese government has denied permission to land.
China's Commerce Ministry yesterday urged the Japanese government to handle the issue properly.
Seven of the 14 Chinese nationals arrested, including two journalists, waded ashore and planted a Chinese flag on one of the rocky, uninhabited islands on Wednesday.
All the 14 would be sent home as early as today, Kyodo reported.
They have been arrested for "violating" Japanese immigration law. Kyodo, citing unnamed government sources, said they would be handed over to immigration officials "possibly Friday."
"They all deny the allegation of illegal entry, saying the islands are part of Chinese territory," a local police spokesman said.
Jiji Press said cabinet ministers would meet this morning to discuss the landing.
The five Chinese activists arrested by Japanese police after landing on Diaoyu Islands were sent to Naha, Okinawa yesterday.
The five handcuffed Chinese activists got off a patrol boat of Japan Coast Guard at Naha Port, shouting out, "Diaoyu Islands are Chinese territory" to Japanese media.
Soon after arrival, the five activists got on five separate vehicles. Okinawa police said they would be sent to different locations for investigation.
The authorities would determine whether to send them to public prosecutors or deport them after examining the purpose of their landing, police said.
The nine other Chinese were also transferred to Naha yesterday afternoon by the coast guard.
The 14 Chinese nationals, despite obstruction by Japanese Coast Guard patrol ships, arrived at Diaoyu Islands by a Hong Kong fishing vessel on Wednesday to assert China's territorial claim to the islands.
China dispatched embassy officials from Tokyo and Hong Kong immigration officials to assist the activists. The five who landed on the islands were in good condition, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said last night.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun, in a phone call with a Japanese foreign ministry official yesterday, urged that Japan immediately and unconditionally release the people and the vessel.
Small protests were held sporadically amid tight security near Japan's embassy in Beijing and Japanese consulate in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
A handful of protesters shouted anti-Japanese slogans outside the embassy in Beijing yesterday.
Dozens of people protested at the Japanese consulate in Hong Kong yesterday, demanding Japan release the Chinese nationals.
Members of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions waved Chinese flags and chanted slogans such as "Down with Japanese militarism" and "Get out of our Diaoyu Islands."
In Shanghai, around 20 people waved Chinese flags, hoisted banners that read "return our Diaoyu Islands, release our brave warriors," and shouted slogans outside the Japanese consulate.
A Japanese nationalist group is sponsoring a weekend trip by some lawmakers and others to waters near the Diaoyu Island, although the Japanese government has denied permission to land.
China's Commerce Ministry yesterday urged the Japanese government to handle the issue properly.
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