Chinese fishing boat captain sent to local police station in Okinawa

The captain of the Chinese trawler which collided with Japanese patrol ships in waters off Diaoyu Islands was brought to a local police station on Ishigaki island in Okinawa Prefecture on Friday.

The 41-year-old captain, Zhan Qixiong, was taken to Yaeyama police station at around 16:40 p.m. local time (0740 GMT) on Friday.

Officials with Ishigaki branch of the Naha District Public Prosecutors Office declined to comment on whether the captain was officially detained when asked by Xinhua reporters at the site. He was brought to a local court earlier on Friday.

Kyodo News reported that local court approved the detention of the Chinese ship captain, and the reporters of a local newspaper in Okinawa said the captain will be detained until Sept. 19 without giving the sources.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Friday summoned Japanese Ambassador to China Uichiro Niwa, and lodged 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's determination to defend the sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands and the interests of Chinese people was unswerving.

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

On Tuesday, two Japan Coast Guard patrol boats and the Chinese fishing boat collided in waters off the Diaoyu Islands.

No injuries were reported, but the fishing boat was then intercepted by Japanese patrol boats.

Source: Xinhua