Foreign and Military Affairs

Japan extends detention of Chinese skipper

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-09-19 19:35
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ISHIGAKI, Japan - A Japanese court on Sunday authorised prosecutors to detain until Sept. 29 the captain of a trawler that collided with two Japanese coast guard ships earlier this month.

The decision was made as the original detention of the skipper, Zhan Qixiong, was due to expire Sunday.

Zhan's trawler collided with two Japanese coast guard patrol vessels off the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea on September 7. He was later held by Japanese authorities for allegedly " obstructing public duties."

China has repeatedly expressed opposition to the illegal detention and demanded an immediate release of the captain.