From Chinese Press

Price Japan could pay

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-09-14 09:02

A Chinese fishing boat collided with a Japanese patrol vessel near Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea recently. Despite Beijing's "solemn representation" to Tokyo, Japan Coast Guard arrested the Chinese trawler's captain for what it described as "obstructing law enforcement". China has protested against Japan's handling of the incident and demanded that the captain be released immediately. Japan's belligerent action has enraged Chinese people, too, says an article on www.cnhubei.com. Excerpts:

The Diaoyu Islands have been part of Chinese territory since ancient times and, hence, Chinese fishermen have the right to be in the waters off their coast.

By taking a Chinese fishing trawler and its captain in custody Japan infringed upon China's sovereignty and jeopardized the safety of the Chinese people.

The Japan Coast Guard has detained Chinese fishing boats earlier too, and imposed heavy fine on them. In the latest case, Japan did not only seize the Chinese trawler and detain the captain, but also threatened to apply Japanese laws in the case.

This is absurd and unacceptable, because the trawler and its captain were taken captive in Chinese waters.

The Diaoyu Islands have been the center of Sino-Japanese conflict in recent years. The Chinese navy has gradually increased in strength, which in Japan's view is probably a threat.

This, in turn, could have made Japan approach the US to stake its claim on the Diaoyu Islands. Japan's handling of the incident has been "rude" and is a sign of its ambition.

Tokyo should take full responsibility for its actions. It should, in fact, launch a thorough investigation to re-confirm the truth. And the Japanese government should acknowledge that the Diaoyu Islands are China's inseparable territory.