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| The Chinese trawler under detention stops at the harbor of Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan, Sep. 9, 2010. Japan Coast Guard sent the captain of the Chinese trawler which collided with Japanese patrol ships in waters off Diaoyu Islands to prosecutors in Okinawa Prefecture Thursday morning. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng) |
Backgrounder: History proves Diaoyu Islands are China's territory
TOKYO, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Japan Coast Guard sent the captain of a Chinese trawler which collided with Japanese patrol ships in waters off Diaoyu Islands to prosecutors in Okinawa Prefecture Thursday morning.
The 41-year-old captain, Zhan Qixiong, was taken to Ishigaki branch of the Naha District Public Prosecutors Office at around 9: 50 a.m. (0050 GMT), according to Xinhua reporters at the scene.
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.
Japan Coast Guard arrested the captain on suspicion of " obstructing public duties" early Wednesday near the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea despite China's protest.
The other 14 crew members, all Chinese, were not arrested, but were kept in an area off Ishigaki and remain there during their captain's questioning.
The Chinese embassy officials met with the captain at the Ishigaki Coast Guard Office in Ishigaki and the other crew members aboard the fishing boat on Wednesday.
The embassy said in a press release sent to Xinhua that the 14 Chinese crew members are healthy and in a stable mood. The embassy had already contacted their families in China.
"The embassy is going all-out to negotiate with the Japanese side, demanding the immediate release of the boat and the crew," the release said.
Also on Wednesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry lodged a strong protest against Japan over the detention of the boat.
