China calls for release of detained fisherman
Wednesday 08 September 2010
Printable
EmailBeijing has called on Tokyo to immediately release a Chinese fisherman who has been detained in Japan for allegedly colliding with Japanese coastguard vessels near disputed islands in the East China Sea.
An unnamed Japanese government official said that the Chinese national was being held on suspicion of obstructing public duties after his boat clashed with the coast guard boats as they tried to apprehend him on Tuesday.
Japanese ambassador Uichiro Niwa was summoned to see Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue, who demanded that the Chinese ship and crew be released immediately.
It was the second time within 24 hours that Beijing had summoned the Japanese envoy on the matter.
On Tuesday evening, Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Song Tao summoned Mr Niwa and demanded an end to the "illegal interception of Chinese fishing boats."
Chinese citizens have gathered outside the Japanese embassy in Beijing, shouting patriotic slogans and waving their national flag.
Chinese people on the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan are planning to rally in Taipei tomorrow against what one activist described as the Japanese coast guard's harassment of Chinese fishing boats.
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