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Chinese activists land on disputed Senkakus; Japan right-wingers on way
Wednesday, March 24, 2004 at 17:40 JST
TOKYO ― Seven Chinese activists landed on the main island of the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea on Wednesday morning, prompting Japan to lodge a diplomatic protest with China and a Japanese right-wing group to dispatch its own activists by ship.
The activists, reportedly among a group of 16 people who sailed off in a 100-ton ship from a port in China's coastal Zhejiang Province early Tuesday, landed on Uotsurijima, one of the five Senkaku islands, around 7:20 a.m. by small boats, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda told a press conference.
Fukuda, the top government spokesman, called it "regrettable that foreigners illegally landed on Japanese soil" and demanded they leave the 4.3-square-kilometer uninhabited island.
But the head of the activist group said the Japan Coast Guard has confiscated their two small fishing boats, leaving them stranded.
Tong Zeng, head of the China Federation for Defending the Diaoyu Islands, said the activists are planning to leave the island after completing their "mission" of setting foot on the isle.
But the Chinese ship carrying the activists and nine fellow protesters to the area earlier was being intercepted by three Japanese vessels and two helicopters as it headed back in a bid to withdraw the seven from the island, Tong said.
"Our people have already accomplished their mission. We therefore decide to bring them back home," Tong said by telephone from Beijing.
The group inserted a Chinese national flag on the island and conducted some environmental and sightseeing studies there after landing the island, Tong said.
The group originally planned to stay on the isle for one to two days, but agreed to return due to conditions including a shortage of the food and water, and a possible deterioration of weather.
Japanese immigration and police officers have been dispatched to the islands, in part to forestall a conflict in the wake of a Tokyo-based right-wing group's claim that its members are due to land on the same island Thursday or Friday.
Vice Foreign Minister Yukio Takeuchi summoned Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Dawei to the Foreign Ministry in the morning to complain about the incident.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, insisting the islands belong to Japan, said, "I hope the Chinese side deals with the issue properly."
The group's ship was initially blocked by Japanese patrol vessels when it closed in on the islands, but the seven activists succeeded in reaching the shore using small boats. Their mother ship left Japanese territorial waters shortly after noon.
Earlier Wednesday, Tong said the group's members landed on the island "to do some scientific and environmental studies there."
"We will of course resist if Japan tries to clear our people from the island. This is a territory of China," Tong said.
The contested isles, which are claimed by Japan, China and Taiwan, are known as Diaoyu in China and Tiaoyutai in Taiwan.
The seven are the first group of such activists to land on the main island of the Senkaku Islands since October 1996.
It was the fourth time Chinese activists set out for the islands in the past nine months, but they failed in their previous three attempts to land.
Meanwhile, 13 people carrying banners protested for over an hour outside the Japanese Embassy in Beijing under the watchful eyes of police, demanding the Japanese government guarantee the safety of the activists on Uotsurijima Island.
Identifying themselves as members of the Patriots Alliance Network, they carried banners reading, "The Daioyu Islands are part of Chinese territory," "Protect every inch," and "Don't forget insults to China."
"We're very moved, very happy," said Ting Zhen, a member of the network, which has organized other anti-Japan activities.
"It wasn't so smooth, but we got there. What it means is that China is taking back its territory."
The islands' total land mass is about 7 sq. km.
On Wednesday morning, a similar steel fishing boat carrying 10 Chinese people set out from Xiamen, Fujian province, on an estimated 40-hour journey for the same purpose, Ting said.
The Chinese government tacitly supports activities by Chinese citizens to sail to the Senkaku Islands to proclaim China's sovereignty over the disputed territory.
Earlier this month, the official Xinhua News Agency reported that some 20 citizens from the provinces of Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Hubei were spending a week at a camp learning survival skills needed for the voyage to the islands.
The article quoted Tong as saying his federation wants to pave the way for tourism to the islands and that the first tourist route would be open in May.
Xinhua reported last Thursday that more than 700 people had applied to join the voyage, but the federation would select only some 20 participants, including activists within the federation, experts, scholars and reporters. (Kyodo News)
Wednesday, March 24, 2004 at 17:40 JST
TOKYO ― Seven Chinese activists landed on the main island of the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea on Wednesday morning, prompting Japan to lodge a diplomatic protest with China and a Japanese right-wing group to dispatch its own activists by ship.
The activists, reportedly among a group of 16 people who sailed off in a 100-ton ship from a port in China's coastal Zhejiang Province early Tuesday, landed on Uotsurijima, one of the five Senkaku islands, around 7:20 a.m. by small boats, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda told a press conference.
Fukuda, the top government spokesman, called it "regrettable that foreigners illegally landed on Japanese soil" and demanded they leave the 4.3-square-kilometer uninhabited island.
But the head of the activist group said the Japan Coast Guard has confiscated their two small fishing boats, leaving them stranded.
Tong Zeng, head of the China Federation for Defending the Diaoyu Islands, said the activists are planning to leave the island after completing their "mission" of setting foot on the isle.
But the Chinese ship carrying the activists and nine fellow protesters to the area earlier was being intercepted by three Japanese vessels and two helicopters as it headed back in a bid to withdraw the seven from the island, Tong said.
"Our people have already accomplished their mission. We therefore decide to bring them back home," Tong said by telephone from Beijing.
The group inserted a Chinese national flag on the island and conducted some environmental and sightseeing studies there after landing the island, Tong said.
The group originally planned to stay on the isle for one to two days, but agreed to return due to conditions including a shortage of the food and water, and a possible deterioration of weather.
Japanese immigration and police officers have been dispatched to the islands, in part to forestall a conflict in the wake of a Tokyo-based right-wing group's claim that its members are due to land on the same island Thursday or Friday.
Vice Foreign Minister Yukio Takeuchi summoned Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Dawei to the Foreign Ministry in the morning to complain about the incident.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, insisting the islands belong to Japan, said, "I hope the Chinese side deals with the issue properly."
The group's ship was initially blocked by Japanese patrol vessels when it closed in on the islands, but the seven activists succeeded in reaching the shore using small boats. Their mother ship left Japanese territorial waters shortly after noon.
Earlier Wednesday, Tong said the group's members landed on the island "to do some scientific and environmental studies there."
"We will of course resist if Japan tries to clear our people from the island. This is a territory of China," Tong said.
The contested isles, which are claimed by Japan, China and Taiwan, are known as Diaoyu in China and Tiaoyutai in Taiwan.
The seven are the first group of such activists to land on the main island of the Senkaku Islands since October 1996.
It was the fourth time Chinese activists set out for the islands in the past nine months, but they failed in their previous three attempts to land.
Meanwhile, 13 people carrying banners protested for over an hour outside the Japanese Embassy in Beijing under the watchful eyes of police, demanding the Japanese government guarantee the safety of the activists on Uotsurijima Island.
Identifying themselves as members of the Patriots Alliance Network, they carried banners reading, "The Daioyu Islands are part of Chinese territory," "Protect every inch," and "Don't forget insults to China."
"We're very moved, very happy," said Ting Zhen, a member of the network, which has organized other anti-Japan activities.
"It wasn't so smooth, but we got there. What it means is that China is taking back its territory."
The islands' total land mass is about 7 sq. km.
On Wednesday morning, a similar steel fishing boat carrying 10 Chinese people set out from Xiamen, Fujian province, on an estimated 40-hour journey for the same purpose, Ting said.
The Chinese government tacitly supports activities by Chinese citizens to sail to the Senkaku Islands to proclaim China's sovereignty over the disputed territory.
Earlier this month, the official Xinhua News Agency reported that some 20 citizens from the provinces of Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Hubei were spending a week at a camp learning survival skills needed for the voyage to the islands.
The article quoted Tong as saying his federation wants to pave the way for tourism to the islands and that the first tourist route would be open in May.
Xinhua reported last Thursday that more than 700 people had applied to join the voyage, but the federation would select only some 20 participants, including activists within the federation, experts, scholars and reporters. (Kyodo News)
