China FM summons Japanese ambassador over Japan's seizure of Chinese fishing boat

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Friday summoned Japanese Ambassador to China Uichiro Niwa, and lodged a solemn representation and protest against Japan's illegal seizure of a Chinese fishing boat in waters off the Diaoyu Islands.

According to a press release from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yang told Uichiro Niwa that the Chinese government was unswerving in its determination to defend the sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands and interests of the Chinese people.

Yang said China demanded Japan immediately and unconditionally release the boat and all the crew, including the captain.

Two Japanese patrol boats collided with a Chinese fishing boat in waters off the Diaoyu Islands Tuesday. No injuries were reported from the collision, but the fishing boat was intercepted by Japanese patrol boats.

On Tuesday following the incident, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao summoned Uichiro Niwa and urged Japanese patrol boats to stop their illegal interception of Chinese fishing boats.

Wednesday morning, the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) arrested the captain of the fishing trawler despite China's requests.

Immediately after the arrest, Chinese ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua lodged solemn representations to Japan.

Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue on Wednesday summoned Uichiro Niwa to lodge the protest.

The JCG handed the captain of the boat to local prosecutors earlier Thursday.

China on Thursday said it opposed Japan's handling of the Chinese fishing boat incident.

"China will never accept the Japanese side's applying domestic law to the Chinese fishing boat operating in that area," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu told the regular briefing Thursday, adding Japan's handling was "absurd, illegal and invalid."

Source: Xinhua