The seven Chinese citizens detained illegally by Japan have
returned safely to China after the Chinese government's repeated
protests, said sources from the foreign ministry Friday night.
The citizens were detained Wednesday by the Japanese coastguard
after landing on the Diaoyu Islands, which have been China's
territory from ancient times.
Earlier Friday, officials from the Chinese embassy to Japan
visited the group in Naha, Okinawa, and made arrangements for their
return.
The 7 detained Chinese arrived at Shanghai Pudong International
Airport at 21:18 (Beijing Time) Friday on China Eastern Airlines
flight MU 88.
The seven Chinese citizens, including Feng Jinhua and Zhang
Likun, landed on the islands at 06:26 on Wednesday after they left
a port in east China's Zhejiang Province at 1?AM Tuesday by
boat.
China has lodged several protests to Japan over the illegal
detention.
Meanwhile, Chinese
Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan?expressed that China
and Japan should work together to properly handle the problems
existing between the two countries to push forward healthy and
stable development of bilateral ties.
Kong said that the Diaoyu Islands have been Chinese territory
from ancient times over which China has indisputable
sovereignty.
It is a fact that China and Japan have disputes over the
sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands, he said, adding that the Chinese
government has always advocated resolving the issue through
negotiations.
Kong said that seven Chinese citizens had been detained
illegally after they had landed on the Diaoyu Islands on March
24,and they had suffered inhumane treatment during the
detention.
This is a serious infringement of China's territorial integrity
and the human rights of the Chinese citizens, Kong noted, adding
that China expresses strong indignation.
He said that China has attached importance to Sino-Japanese
relations, and would like to develop the relationship.
(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2004)