150 Japanese activists heading to Diaoyu Islands

TOKYO - A group of Japanese activists, including parliamentarians, departed from Ishigaki city, Okinawa, heading to Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea Saturday night to declare sovereignty over the islands, the Daily Yomiuri reported.

21 vessels carrying 150 people, 8 members of the Japanese Diet from Liberal Democratic Party, Kizuna Party and the ruling Japan Democratic Party, and set sail from several fishing ports of Ishigaki city.

The group estimated to arrive at Sunday morning and return to Ishigaki in the afternoon.

They will hold a ceremony for people died in a war in 1945, and then investigating fishery in the waters near Diaoyu Islands.

The organizer said the Japanese government rejected the application from the group earlier this month to land on the Diaoyu Islands so they will do every thing on the boats.

In a related development, 7 of the 14 Chinese activists illegally detained by Japanese police for landing on one of the Diaoyu islands Wednesday arrived in Hong Kong by plane at around 19:50 local time Friday.

The other group of seven have also boarded a plane of Japan Coast Guard to fly to Ishigaki Island where their vessel was detained and will return later on the boat they came from.