Prosecutors: Japan to release Chinese captain held in boat collision that caused major dispute

Japan to release Chinese boat captain amid tension

TOKYO — Japanese prosecutors said Friday they will release the captain of a Chinese fishing vessel involved in a collision near disputed islands.

The incident had raised tensions with China, which has angrily demanded Tokyo release the captain, and cut off ministerial-level talks with Japan.

Prosecutors on Ishigaki island in southern Japan, where the captain has been in custody for more than two weeks, said they would free him though it was unclear when that would occur.

The captain was arrested on Sept. 8 after his fishing trawler collided with Japanese coast guard vessels near a string of islands in the East China Sea called Diaoyu or Diaoyutai in Chinese and Senkaku in Japanese.

The islands are controlled by Japan, but are also claimed by China. They are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and are regularly occupied by nationalists from both sides.