Chinese authority has urged Japanese counterpart to release the Chinese fishermen and fishing boat its coast guard seized earlier this week. Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo asked the Japanese ambassador in China to make wise political decision as the Chinese fishing boat and its crew were seized Tuesday in waters off the Diaoyu Islands and its captain was detained on Friday.
Dai said that the government’s grave concerns and its serious and just position regarding the issue. Dai warned Japan not to make a wrong judgement on the situation and urged it to make a “wise political resolution” and immediately release the fishermen and return the boat.
China decided Friday night to postpone a negotiation with Japan on the East China Sea issue, which had been scheduled for mid September, after a Japanese court ruled a 10-day detention through September19 against the captain despite protests from China. Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi also asked Japan immediately and unconditionally release the boat and all the crew, saying China’s determination to defend its sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands and the interests of the Chinese people was unswerving.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Japan’s acts have violated the law of nations and basic international common sense, and are “ridiculous, illegal and invalid.
