Japan rejects China’s demand for formal apology
“Mr Zhan left Okinawa on Friday evening on a specially chartered plane sent by the government of China.
After his release, the Chinese foreign ministry issued a statement reiterating its “strong protest” and what it called its “indisputable” claim to the islands.
“The Japanese side must make an apology and compensation for this incident,” the statement said.
The release of the captain came amid the worst rift between Asia’s two biggest economies in years. China broke off ministerial level contacts and thousands of Chinese tourists cancelled holidays.
Japanese prosecutors took the politics into account. They said even though the captain may have deliberately rammed Japanese coastguard ships it wasn’t worth detaining him given the importance of ties between Japan and China.
Japan’s government insists the prosecutors took the decision alone. But opposition politicians have criticised it. They fear the country has been left looking weak.
A Japanese foreign ministry spokesman described China’s demand as “totally groundless” and said it could not be accepted.”