BEIJING, Sept 25, 2010 (AFP) - Beijing today demanded an apology and compensation from Tokyo over the “unlawful” detention of a Chinese trawlerman that sparked a major row, despite Japan's decision to release him.
In a far from conciliatory statement, China's foreign ministry said the disputed islands at the centre of the diplomatic standoff were Beijing's “inherent territory” and Tokyo's actions were illegal and invalid. “(The arrest) seriously infringed upon China's territorial sovereignty and violated the human rights of Chinese citizens,” the ministry said in a brief statement.
“Japan's detention, investigation or any form of judiciary measures for the Chinese trawler and fishermen are unlawful and invalid,” it said, adding: “The Japanese side must make apology and compensation for the incident.”
But Japan had turned down the demand, a report in Tokyo said, as the government there faces accusations that it caved in to bullying by China when it decided on Friday to release the trawler captain.
Prosecutors “came to their judgment in compliance with their duty on the basis of Japanese domestic law” Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan told reporters when asked for his view on the decision to release the trawlerman.
“In any case, China and Japan are important neighbours,” Kan said in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Japanese prosecutors cited the deepening rift between Beijing and Tokyo in their decision to release the skipper, who was arrested after his boat collided with two Japanese coastguard vessels in the East China Sea.
Zhan Qixiong, 41, had acted on the spur of the moment and not committed a premeditated criminal act and had no prior criminal record in Japan, said Naha district deputy chief prosecutor Toru Suzuki in a televised press conference.
Chinese state television showed Zhan receiving a hero's welcome after the government-chartered plane sent to fetch him touched down at Fuzhou, capital of the southeastern province of Fujian, in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Making victory signs with his fingers and clutching a bunch of flowers, a smiling Zhan was greeted by his wife, son and government officials.
Japan suspects China drilling in disputed area
TOKYO, Sept 25 (AFP) - Japan suspects that China has started drilling in a disputed gas field in the East China Sea amid a simmering territorial row between the two countries, news reports said today.
Japan's trade and industry ministry “has recognised that there is a high possibility that China was going ahead with drilling” at the gas field, known in Japan as Shirakaba and in China as Chunxiao, the Mainichi Shimbun said.
The Asahi Shimbun also reported that the ministry has “circumstantial evidence” proving that China has started drilling there. Beijing says its activities in the gas field are “completely reasonable and legal”.
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