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Chinese embassy officials visit fishermen detained by Japan

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Officials from the Chinese Embassy in Japan have visited the Chinese fishermen illegally detained by the Japanese authorities last week in the East China Sea.

The detained Chinese fishing trawler is flanked by two Japanese Coast Guard vessels during an investigation by Japanese authorities near Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Prefecture of Japan Sept. 12, 2010. Japanese authorities on Sunday morning towed the Chinese fishing boat to the sea near Ishigaki island in Okinawa Prefecture to recapture the situation when it collided with two patrol ships of Japanese Coast Guard off Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea on Tuesday. China is firmly opposed to any kind of investigation by Japanese authorities of the illegally-detained Chinese fishing trawler, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Sunday.

The Chinese government and people care very much about their living and security conditions in captivity, officials from the embassy in Tokyo and the consulate general in Fukuoka told the crew members.

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and other senior diplomats have for several times lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side and protested the detention of the Chinese fishermen, they said.

Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo summoned Japanese ambassador Uichiro Niwa early Sunday morning and demanded the immediate release of the Chinese fishermen and their boat. Dai urged Japan to avoid any misjudgment of the situation and to make a "wise political resolution."

Dai was the highest-ranking Chinese official to make a public response after the fishing boat and its crew were seized.

The Chinese embassy officials learned in detail the crew members' physical and mental conditions, bought food, fresh water and medicines for them, and contacted their families.

The officials told the crew members that the Chinese government was sparing no effort in urging the Japanese side to release them, and asked them to keep good health and calmness, support the Chinese government's work and have confidence that the government can properly handle the issue as quickly as possible.

The Chinese Embassy in Tokyo is continuing to make representations with the Japanese authorities, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the crew members and their boat.

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