Japan coastguard stops Chinese fishing boat amid isles dispute
Iran Press TV
Tue Mar 5, 2013 3:44PM GMT
Japanese coast guards have stopped a Chinese fishing boat off Okinawa as tension is simmering between Tokyo and Beijing over a territorial dispute.
According to the local branch of the Japan Coast Guard (JCG), the coral fishing boat with a crew of 11 was stopped by Japanese coastguard patrol boats in waters some 44 kilometers (29 miles) northeast of Miyako Island.
The island is located in the Okinawa Prefecture and lies 150 kilometers away from a chain of islands in the East China Sea claimed by both countries.
Following the incident, Japanese coastguard officials issued a statement saying that “After receiving information from our aeroplane, three of our patrol boats approached the Chinese ship, and they are now sailing back to Miyako with the Chinese ship.”
Reports say that the 44-year-old captain of the boat was detained on suspicion of fishing in the exclusive maritime zone without permission from Japan.
On February 28, JCG said that three Chinese surveillance ships had entered the 12-nautical-mile territorial zone off one of the islands called Uotsuri.
Tokyo and Beijing have long been at loggerheads over the sovereignty of the islands, which would give the owner exclusive oil, mineral, and fishing rights in the surrounding waters. The islands are controlled by Japan and form part of Okinawa prefecture.
Tensions heightened between the two countries after Japan signed a deal on September 11, 2012 to buy three of the islands from their private Japanese owner in line with plans to nationalize the archipelago. Hundreds of Chinese held several anti-Japan demonstrations following the Japanese move.
MAM/PKH
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