Egypt joins Geneva negotiations on Global Plastics Treaty, calls for urgent agreement    Egypt delivers over 30 million health services through public hospitals in H1 2025    Madinet Masr in talks for three land plots in Riyadh as part of Saudi expansion    Egypt's PM tells Palestinian PM that Rafah crossing is working 24/7 for aid    Egypt, Japan discuss economic ties, preparations for TICAD conference    Real Estate Developers urge flexible land pricing, streamlined licensing, and dollar-based transactions    Egypt's Sisi pledges full state support for telecoms, tech investment    EGP inches down vs. USD at Sunday's trading close    EGX launches 1st phone app    Escalation in Gaza, West Bank as Israeli strikes continue amid mounting international criticism    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt, UNDP discuss outcomes of joint projects, future environmental cooperation    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    After Putin summit, Trump says peace deal is best way to end Ukraine war    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Jordan condemns Israeli PM remarks on 'Greater Israel'    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt's govt. issues licensing controls for used cooking oil activities    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Egypt's Sisi: Egypt is gateway for aid to Gaza, not displacement    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Japan frees 14 members of Chinese ship
Published in The Egyptian Gazette on 13 - 09 - 2010

TOKYO -Japan freed 14 crew members of a Chinese ship Monday nearly a week after their vessel collided with two Japanese patrol boats near disputed southern islets, but kept the captain in custody in a case that has angered China.
After authorities had questioned them, the 14 men left on a Chinese chartered plane that was sent to pick them up from where they were on a nearby Japanese island, said the Foreign Ministry, which arranged the flight back.
Japan is also releasing the Chinese ship, which will be operated by a set of crew members who were flown in on the Chinese plane, the ministry said.
China has demanded that Japan release the entire crew, including the captain, Zhan Qixiong, who was arrested for allegedly obstructing official duties during the collision last Tuesday. A Japanese court has granted permission to prosecutors to keep him in custody until Sept. 19 to decide whether to formally indict him.
China has said the confrontation could damage its relations with Japan, underlining the sensitivity of the territorial dispute in the area. Beijing said Friday that it was postponing talks scheduled earlier with Japan on contested undersea deposits in the East China Sea, in a sign of its anger. The talks would have been the second meeting over the gas exploration related to the territorial dispute.
China's State Councilor Dai Bingguo called in Japanese Ambassador Uichiro Niwa early Sunday - the fourth time that he has been summoned over the incident. It is highly unusual for an official of Dai's rank to intercede.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku expressed displeasure over Dai's midnight protest.
"It was regrettable that Ambassador Niwa was summoned at such late hours," Sengoku said, adding that Japan would not release the captain despite the protest.
Sengoku also criticized China for linking the gas exploration talks with the collisions: "They are totally separate issues. We will ask China to reschedule the talks in the near future in order to establish forward-looking Japan-China relations."
The incident occurred on Sept. 7, when the Chinese fishing boat collided with Japanese patrol vessels after ignoring warnings to leave the area near the disputed islands called Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese, and refusing to stop for an inspection, Japan's coast guard said.
The crew members were not arrested, but Japanese investigators were questioning them on a voluntary basis regarding the allegations of obstructing public duties as well as their suspected illegal fishing in the area, coast guard officials said.
A group of about 20 Chinese activists, meanwhile, planned to sail from the eastern coastal city of Xiamen to waters near the disputed islands.


Clic here to read the story from its source.