09/15/2010

Japan-China trawler row deepens

China has summoned Japan's ambassador to demand the release of a Chinese fishing boat captain detained last week, in the worst diplomatic spat between the two regional rivals in years.

Zhan Qixiong and his crew were seized following a collision on September 7 between his trawler and two Japanese coastguard vessels in disputed waters.

Japan says Zhan rammed the two Japanese coastguard patrol vessels intentionally during a high-seas chase near disputed islands in the East China Sea, which are claimed by both countries as well as Taiwan.

The maritime incident has strained ties between the two Asian nations, and China has since summoned Uichiro Niwa, the Japanese envoy, repeatedly.

Liu Zhenmin, the Chinese assistant foreign minister, called Niwa on Tuesday to complain again over Japan's continued "illegal detention" of the Chinese skipper.

In a statement posted on the ministry's website, Liu "demanded that Japan immediately release and send back the Chinese boat captain."

The trawler's 14 crew members were released on Monday.

Read more at Aljazeera

Sep 15, 2010 8:43:53 AM | Boats, Current Affairs

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