China told Japan to make a “wise political resolution” to release a fishing boat and its crew detained in disputed waters five days ago. State Councilor Dai Bingguo summoned Uichiro Niwa, Japan’s ambassador in Beijing, early today in Beijing and called for the immediate release of the captain, his crew and the boat, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.
“Dai expressed solemnly the Chinese government’s grave concerns and its serious and just position,” Xinhua cited the Foreign Ministry as saying in a statement after the meeting.
Japan said the captain was detained after his fishing boat collided with a Coast Guard vessel on Sept. 7. The case against the captain has been sent to prosecutors, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku said three days ago, prompting China to warn that the issue may damage ties between the countries.
The collision took place in the East China Sea near islands claimed by both countries. Sovereignty over the area, which is close to gas fields and a shipping lane, would give the holder rights to undersea oil reserves.
China’s government has summoned the ambassador at least twice to demand the release of the fishermen.
Niwa today told Dai there’s no change to Japan’s position that the government will handle the case by rigorously following domestic law, indicating Japan can’t accept China’s request, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported.
Talks Postponed
China on Sept. 10 postponed discussions with Japan on the East China Sea after a Japanese court ruled that the fishing boat captain will be detained until Sept. 19, Xinhua reported at the time. Japan ignored China’s representations, the news agency cited Foreign Ministry spokesman Jiang Yu as saying.
“Japan will reap as it has sown if it continues to act recklessly,” Jiang said two days ago, adding that Japan’s actions are “illegal and invalid.”
Japan should have a clear understanding that relations could be harmed by the dispute, Jiang said on Sept. 9. “Disputes over territorial sovereignty are highly sensitive,” Jiang said. “If improperly handled, they will have a serious impact on the larger interests of China-Japan relations.”
The collision took place near islands known as Diaoyu in Chinese and Senkaku in Japanese. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Two Japanese Coast Guard vessels conducting oceangraphic investigations were yesterday ordered to suspend operations by a Chinese warship, the Yomiuri newspaper reported today. The ships were 280 kilometers (174 miles) west-northwest of the main island of Okinawa, in an area Japan claims as its exclusive economic zone, according to the report. Japan filed a complaint with China over the incident, Yomiuri said.