Territory - Diaoyu Islands

State Responsibility - Countermeasure

Two Japanese coastguard patrol boats collided with a Chinese fishing boat in waters off the Diaoyu islands, after which the fishing boat and the Chinese crew were detained by the Japanese patrol ships. China lodged "solemn representations" and a FM spokeswoman demanded that "Japanese patrol boats refrain from so-called law enforcement activities in waters off the Diaoyu islands and refrain from actions that would threaten the security of Chinese fishing boats and their crew". Later, as Japanese authorities arrested the Chinese captain on suspicion of "obstructing public duties" in connection with the collision, Chinese Foreign Ministry lodged a "strong protest" and demanded Japan to immediately release the ship and crew members on board and guarantee their safety. A Chinese FM spokeswoman announced that China had sent armed fisheries administration ships to patrol in China's EEZ in waters near the Diaoyus to protect the safety and operations of Chinese fishermen. She said, "The Diaoyu islands are China's inseparable territory, and the Japanese side applying domestic law to Chinese fishing boats operating in this area is absurd, illegal and invalid, and China will never accept that."

Meanwhile, Japan appeared to treat the Diaoyu (Senkaku) Islands just as the Hokkaido Island (with one Japanese official saying there is "no territorial issue" in the East China Sea) as a Japanese court approved a 10-day detention of the Chinese captain. Chinese FM Yang Jiechi reiterated Beijing's demand that the captain and crew of the fishing boat be released "unconditionally", and "emphasised that the Chinese government's determination to safeguard the sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands and the nation's people is firm and steadfast". China also decided to postpone the second round of negotiation with Japan on the East China Sea gas fields as part of its response to the seizure of a Chinese fishing boat. After China's State Councillor Dai Bingguo summoned the Japanese ambassador in the wee hours of a Sunday morning to issue a stern warning, Japan freed the crew of the Chinese fishing boat but continued to detain the captain.