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China blasts Japan, demands immediate release of fishing captain

From Jo Kent, CNN
Chinese fishing boats are berthed along the coast in Jinjiang, in southeast China's Fujian province on September 9, 2010, where the Chinese crew set sail before being arrested by Japanese authorities.
Chinese fishing boats are berthed along the coast in Jinjiang, in southeast China's Fujian province on September 9, 2010, where the Chinese crew set sail before being arrested by Japanese authorities.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Japan is illegally holding the captain, China says
  • His crew of 14 returned to China on Monday, after Japan freed them
  • Their arrests off disputed islands has angered some in China
  • A Japanese school in China was fired at Sunday, with BBs
RELATED TOPICS
  • China

Beijing, China (CNN) -- China on Tuesday continued its diatribe against Japan over the arrest of a Chinese fishing captain and demanded his immediate release.

"Japan provoked this situation and Japan should take all responsibilities," said Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Jiang Yu. "We urge the Japanese to stop so-called legal procedures and let him return safely and immediately."

The captain's fishing trawler crashed into two Japanese patrol boats last week off the disputed Diaoyu Islands, in the East China Sea. He remains in custody, accused of obstructing Japanese public officers while they performed duties.

On Monday, his 14 crew members returned to China. The Japanese coast guard freed the crew members after completing an investigation, a coast guard official told CNN.

Their detention angered Beijing, which repeatedly summoned the Japanese ambassador, demanding their release.

Beijing says the Diaoyu Islands and most of the South China Sea belong to China, disputing neighboring countries' claims. The clash over territorial waters and islands -- and the natural resources that go with them -- is a flashpoint in the Asia-Pacific region.

"Chinese people have expressed strong indignation to this, and this fully embodies the Chinese people's resolve to defend national sovereignty," Yu said. "The islands has sovereign rights, and no one can change that fact."

"If you read history documents, Chinese first discovered the island and put it in effective administration," Yu added.

Word of the fishermen's arrest has led to irate reactions from some of the Chinese public, as seen in online posts.

On Sunday, a Japanese school in northeastern China was fired on with small BBs, presumably in connection with the fishermen's arrest.

The Japanese Embassy in China said: "We have received report from Japanese School of Tianjin. The Japanese Embassy contacted relevant departments of Chinese government, requiring relevant departments to strengthen security at the school, to guarantee the safety of the students at Japanese School, as well as all the Japanese in Tianjin."

"So far, we haven't heard that anyone is injured, and we haven't got any result of the investigation," the embassy added.