Related News
Japan's PM has 'no intention' of apologizing over detention
Source: Agencies |
September 27, 2010, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
JAPANESE Prime Minister Naoto Kan has rejected China's repeated demand that Japan apologize and offer compensation for the arrest of a Chinese boat captain whose detention caused relations between the Asian neighbors to plunge to their lowest level in years.
"I have no intention of accepting (the demand) at all," Kan said. "It is important for both sides to act with a broader point of view."
Kan made the remarks after China reiterated its demand for an apology from Japan on Saturday, just hours after Japanese authorities had released the captain whose vessel collided with Japanese patrol boats near China's Diaoyu Islands on September 7.
In Japan, opposition politicians lambasted the decision to release the captain as a sign that the government was "caving in" to outside pressures.
"This is tone-deaf diplomacy," said Nobuteru Ishihara, secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party, the largest opposition party.
On national television, he said he was determined to pursue the move in parliament, including summoning officials for testimonies.
But Katsuya Okada, secretary-general of the ruling Democratic Party, defended the government's handling of the crisis and denied any pressure on prosecutors to release the captain.
Yesterday morning, a 20-year-old man was arrested after throwing a flare into the grounds of the Chinese Consulate General in Nagasaki.
No one was injured, a police official said. The man was taking part in an anti-China parade nearby, he said.
Japanese authorities released the captain, Zhan Qixiong, early on Saturday and he was flown home the same day by chartered plane to Fuzhou in eastern Fujian Province.
China repeated its demand for an apology and compensation from Japan but Japan's Foreign Ministry said the demands "absolutely cannot be accepted."
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu responded by saying: "China, of course, has the right to demand Japan apologize and make compensation."
Jiang said the acts of the Japanese side had severely infringed upon China's territorial sovereignty and the personal rights and interests of Chinese citizens.
She reiterated that Diaoyu Islands had been an integral part of China's territory since ancient times.
She said that the Chinese government would, as always, stand fast in safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.
Captain Zhan told China Central Television he was eager to return for more fishing in the East China Sea.
"I have no intention of accepting (the demand) at all," Kan said. "It is important for both sides to act with a broader point of view."
Kan made the remarks after China reiterated its demand for an apology from Japan on Saturday, just hours after Japanese authorities had released the captain whose vessel collided with Japanese patrol boats near China's Diaoyu Islands on September 7.
In Japan, opposition politicians lambasted the decision to release the captain as a sign that the government was "caving in" to outside pressures.
"This is tone-deaf diplomacy," said Nobuteru Ishihara, secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party, the largest opposition party.
On national television, he said he was determined to pursue the move in parliament, including summoning officials for testimonies.
But Katsuya Okada, secretary-general of the ruling Democratic Party, defended the government's handling of the crisis and denied any pressure on prosecutors to release the captain.
Yesterday morning, a 20-year-old man was arrested after throwing a flare into the grounds of the Chinese Consulate General in Nagasaki.
No one was injured, a police official said. The man was taking part in an anti-China parade nearby, he said.
Japanese authorities released the captain, Zhan Qixiong, early on Saturday and he was flown home the same day by chartered plane to Fuzhou in eastern Fujian Province.
China repeated its demand for an apology and compensation from Japan but Japan's Foreign Ministry said the demands "absolutely cannot be accepted."
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu responded by saying: "China, of course, has the right to demand Japan apologize and make compensation."
Jiang said the acts of the Japanese side had severely infringed upon China's territorial sovereignty and the personal rights and interests of Chinese citizens.
She reiterated that Diaoyu Islands had been an integral part of China's territory since ancient times.
She said that the Chinese government would, as always, stand fast in safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.
Captain Zhan told China Central Television he was eager to return for more fishing in the East China Sea.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
