09
theSun ONMONDAY | SEPTEMBER 13, 2010
Pressure
on Japan
BEIJING:
China kept up the
pressure on Tokyo over a
Chinese fishing vessel
seized in disputedwaters,
warning Japan yesterday to
make a “wise” decision on
the fate of the boat and its
detained crew.
China called Japan’s
ambassador in for the fourth
time in the spat, which
began on Tuesdaywhen a
Chinese trawler and two
Japanese coast guard
vessels collided near an
island chain in the East
China Sea claimed by both
sides.
Chinese State Councillor
Dai Bingguo summoned
Ambassador UichiroNiwa
in the early hours of Sunday
towarn Japanmust make a
“wise political decisions”
and release the trawler and
its crew.
“Dai solemnly expressed
the Chinese government’s
grave concerns and its
serious and just position,”
China’s foreignministry
said in a statement on its
website.
China’s state-run Xinhua
news agency describedDai
– the government’s senior
foreign policy official – as
the highest-ranking Chinese
official to weigh in on the
affair yet.
The row escalated on
Saturdaywhen a Chinese
vessel confronted two
Japanese survey vessels at
sea, and Beijing called off
planned talks with Tokyo
over the East China Sea in
protest.
They had been
scheduled to hold
discussions later this month
on issues relating to the
East China Sea.
Beijing has warned
Tokyo of a “serious impact”
on ties if the trawler and its
crew are not released.
Tokyo suspects the
trawler captain deliberately
rammed the two Japanese
vessels near the disputed
island chain in Tuesday’s
incident. Four Japanese
patrol boats later pursued
and seized the Chinese
trawler.
The uninhabited islands
– known as Senkaku in
Japan andDiaoyu in China –
lie between Japan’s
Okinawa island andTaiwan.
They are claimed by Tokyo,
Beijing and Taipei and are
frequently the focus of
regional tensions.
There are four
controversial Chinese gas
fields in the sea that Japan
says extend into its own
exclusive economic zone
(EEZ).
China said on Thursday
that a Chinese “law
enforcement” ship had been
sent to the area to “protect”
its fishermen there. – AFP
Beijingwarns Tokyo tomake
‘wise’ decision inboat row
B R I E F S
JAPANPREMIERFACES
LEADERSHIPSHOWDOWN
TOKYO:
A veteran Japanese powerbroker will today
challenge PrimeMinister Naoto Kan, threatening to
oust him after just three months in power to become
the nation’s third leader in a year. Although unpopular
with the Japanese public, the gruff and scandal-tainted
IchiroOzawa is seen as having an even chance in the
internal party ballot because he commands the loyalty
of many lawmakers he helped get elected. If Ozawa
wins, he would become the sixth premier of Asia’s
long-time economic powerhouse in four years. – AFP
INDIABRACESFORRULING
ONRELIGIOUSDISPUTE
NEWDELHI:
One of themost divisive events in India’s
modern history returns to centre stage thismonthwith a
high court ruling on a religious dispute that redrew the
country’s political landscape. The 1992 destruction by
Hindu activists of the Babri mosque in the northern town
of Ayodhya triggered theworst sectarian violence since
partition and helpedpropel India’smainHindu
nationalist party from the political fringes into
government. There are deep concerns that the long-
awaited Sept 24 ruling on ownership of the Babri site
could reignite communal tensions.– AFP
SAUDI DIPLOMATSEEKS
USASYLUM: REPORT
WASHINGTON:
A Saudi Arabian diplomat is seeking
political asylum in the United States because he is gay
and befriended a Jewish woman, and fears for his life
if he returns, NBC News reported ON Saturday.The
diplomat, which NBC identified as Ali Ahmad Asseri,
the first secretary of the Saudi consulate in Los
Angeles, reportedly told US federal officials that
Saudi officials refused to renew his diplomatic
passport and terminated his job after they discovered
that he was gay and was close friends with a Jewish
woman. – AFP
MANTHROWSSHOE
ATGREEKPRIMEMINISTER
ATHENS:
Aman threw a shoe at Greek Prime Minister
George Papandreou on Saturday in protest at the
socialist government’s austerity measures. The shoe
missed its intended target and the man was arrested
along with two accomplices, radio reports said. The
incident took place in the northern city of Thessaloniki
where the prime minister was attending the opening
of an international exhibition. The 49-year-old
assailant told reporters he threw the shoe in protest at
government fiscal and labour reforms. – dpa