国内英语新闻:Chinese trawler crew seized by Japan return home on chartered flight

China has repeatedly lodged solemn representations to the Japanese side about the incident, and all Chinese people, including overseas Chinese compatriots, have denounced the illegal moves of the Japanese side, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said.

"All this fully illustrates the firm will and determination of the Chinese government and the Chinese people to safeguard the territory and sovereignty of our homeland," Jiang said.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and the local government of Fujian Province were also aboard the chartered flight to take care of the fishermen, she said.

The captain of the Chinese trawler, Zhan Qixiong, 41, is still being held by Japanese authorities for allegedly "obstructing public duties." A Japanese court has ruled he be detained for 10 days, until Sept. 19.

"The captain is still being illegally detained by the Japanese side and China strongly demands the Japanese side immediately let him return," Jiang said.

The trawler and its crew members were kept off Ishigaki harbor in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture from last Tuesday and China four times demanded their return.

State Councillor Dai Bingguo, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and some other senior Chinese diplomats have summoned the Japanese Ambassador to China, Uichiro Niwa, four times since the incident.

During his meeting with Uichiro Niwa in the early hours of Sunday, Dai said Japan must make a "wise political decision" and free the trawler and crew.

Also on Sunday, China voiced its firm opposition to any kind of investigation by the Japanese side of the incident, when the Japanese towed the trawler to the sea near Ishigaki island to reenact the vessels' collision.

In a written statement, spokeswoman Jiang said Japan's so-called evidence-taking activities were illegal, invalid and conducted in vain.