BEIJING - China on Thursday called for Japan to protect the legitimate rights of detained Chinese fishermen.

"The Chinese side is looking into the case and hopes the Japanese side can handle it properly and protect the legitimate rights of the detained Chinese fishermen," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Weimin said at a regular press briefing in response to Japan's detainment of a Chinese fishing boat.

The Japan Coast Guard detained a Chinese fishing boat captain and crew members near the Ogasawara island chain for fishing in Japan's territorial waters, the Japanese side said Thursday.