Japan to ask China to pay for vessels damage

TOKYO - Japan is to ask China to pay for damage to two coastguard vessels by a Chinese fishing boat earlier this month, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku said Monday.

Japan’s arrest of the Chinese skipper and 14 crew of the trawler as well as the collision off a disputed set of islands have led to the worst diplomatic row in several years between Japan and China.

Sengoku said it was China’s turn to decide whether it wants to mend bilateral relations, since Japan released the captain of the trawler last week after Beijing’s repeated requests.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan rejected Sunday China’s demand for an apology and compensation for the trawler incident.

Japan also urged China to ensure the safety of four Japanese citizens detained in the northern province of Hebei and “swiftly handle the case from a humanitarian viewpoint”, Kyodo news quoted the Japanese embassy in Beijing as saying late Sunday.

The four men, employees of Japanese construction company Fujita Corp, have been detained for allegedly entering a military zone without authorisation and illegally filming defence facilities.