A Chinese fishing boat captain detained by Japanese authorities has been released after paying a fine, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
Zhang Tianxiong, 47, was taken into custody along with 10 of his crew members by the Japanese coastguard on Sunday when sailing near the Goto islands off Nagasaki in southwestern Japan.
Japan Today reported that Zhang paid a fine of 300,000 yen ($3,860) for entering Japanese waters, and was then released to return home.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a news conference that the incident was resolved appropriately.
This incident occurred just over one year after tensions between China and Japan flared up following the detention of a captain of a Chinese trawler, which collided with Japanese patrol boats in September 2010. The incident has had a lasting effect on diplomatic relations.
Beijing called off several exchanges with Japan and suspended ministerial talks. The relationship remained cold until China provided aid to Japan after an earthquake and tsunami hit the country in March.
But unlike the September 2010 incident, which happened near China's Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, a sensitive area because of territorial disputes, this one took place farther to the north, in waters that not are disputed, the coast guard said.
Governments and media from both countries remained calm, the coast guard said.
According to the Nagasaki coast guard, the 10 crew members arrived at Nagasaki port on
Monday afternoon with the fishing vessel and were taken in for questioning. None of them were arrested.
Questions:
1. How old was the captain?
2. How much was the fine?
3. What port did the crew arrive at on Monday?
Answers:
1. 47.
2. 300,000 yen ($3,860).
3. Nagasaki.
(中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯)
About the broadcaster:
Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.