Japan Said to Free Chinese Captain Amid Tensions

[maddezmom]

Source: NYT

Japan Said to Free Chinese Captain Amid TensionsBy MARTIN FACKLER and IAN JOHNSON
Published: September 24, 2010
TOKYO — Japanese authorities said on Friday that they will release the captain of a Chinese trawler whose arrest two weeks ago near islands claimed by China and Japan had caused growing tensions between the two Asian powers.

Japanese prosecutors said they decided not to press charges against the captain, identified as Zhan Qixiong, 41, who was detained on Sept. 8 after his boat collided with Japanese Coast Guard vessels that were pursuing him near the disputed islands in the East China Sea.

The arrest had sent Japan’s ties with China to their lowest point in years. China reacted angrily to the arrest by cutting off ministerial-level talks, with Premier Wen Jiabao threatening further unspecified actions if he was not released.

While appealing for calm, Japanese leaders had initially stood firm in saying that their country’s laws applied to the captain, who was detained in waters administered by Japan but claimed by China and also Taiwan.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/25/world/asia/25chinajapan.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

[DavidDvorkin]

1. That signals a shift of power.