Dispute Over Collision & Islands Continues Between China and Japan

China has postponed a senior official’s visit to Tokyo amidst a dispute with Japan over the arrest of a Chinese fishing boat captain after a collision.

Li Jianquo, vice-chairman if the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress was scheduled to visit Japan for a five day trip starting Wednesday. Mr. Jianquo was invited before the incident took place, by the Japanese lower house of parliament.

One week ago, September 7, the Japanese Coast Guard reported that patrol boats repeatedly ordered the Chinese fishing boat to exit the area. After ignoring the orders to exit, the Japanese patrol boats reported that they ordered the fishing boat to stop for an on site inspection over alleged violation of fishing laws.

When the fishing vessel did not stop a chase ensued leading to the collision of the fishing boat with both patrol boats.

The Japanese were patrolling the uninhabited, disputed islands known as Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese. About 120 miles east of Taiwan, the islands are controlled by Japan but are also claimed by China and Taiwan.

Japanese officials arrested the captain and crew of the fishing vessel following the collisions.

The Chinese government accused Japan of provoking the incident and ordered that they release the captain and crew. On Monday Japan released 14 crew members but continues to hold the captain, Zhan Qixiong. A Japanese court has granted permission to hold the captain until September 19, while prosecutors determine whether to indict him on charges of obstructing public duties.

China believes the case against the captain is a claim of sovereignty by Japan over the disputed islands.

Several activist from China, Japan and even Taiwan have sailed to the islands this past week to promote their countries claim to the area. A Taiwanese vessel carrying protesters to the islands was intercepted by the Japanese Coast Guard early Monday morning just as it entered Japanese territorial waters in the East China Sea

On Tuesday in Taipei, protesters gathered at the Japanese Embassy, pelting the building with raw fish. Police were able to control the protest and no one was injured.

Sources: Xijang, AP

Photo Credit: (1)11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters, (2) AP Photo/Wally Santana