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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Japan rejects China's demand for apology |
| 2010-09-26 |
| [Pak Daily Times] Japan on Saturday turned down China's call for compensation and an apology for the detention of a Chinese fishing boat captain whose arrest sparked a bitter row between the countries. "The case was handled as obstruction of executive officers by a Chinese fishing boat in a strict and orderly manner based on our country's domestic law," foreign ministry spokesman Satoru Sato said in a statement. "Therefore, China's demand for compensation or an apology is totally groundless," the spokesman said. "It cannot be accepted at all." Beijing called for compensation and an apology for the "unlawful" detention as the Chinese trawler-man arrived home early Saturday after being released by Japanese prosecutors. China's foreign ministry said the disputed islands at the centre of the diplomatic standoff were Beijing's "inherent territory", according to a report by the state-run Xinhua news agency. "(The arrest) seriously infringed upon China's territorial sovereignty and violated the human rights of Chinese citizens," the ministry said in a statement. "Japan's detention, investigation or any form of judiciary measures for the Chinese trawler and fishermen are unlawful and invalid," the report said, adding: "The Japanese side must make apology and compensation for the incident." The Chinese skipper was arrested on September 8 after his boat collided with two Japanese coastguard vessels near a disputed island chain, called Senkaku by Japan and Diaoyu by China. |
| Posted by:Fred |