China rejects Japan’s demand for damaged vessels’ reimbursement

BEIJING - China’s Foreign Ministry has rejected Japan’s demand to sponsor the repair of two of its Coast Guard vessels involved in a collision in waters off the Diaoyu Islands last year.

The Xinhua news agency quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu as saying that the Diaoyu Islands and adjacent islets are an integral part of Chinese territory from ancient times, and that Japan had “no right” to request compensation.

The Japanese Coast Guard has reportedly sent a bill of 170,000 dollars to trawler captain Zhan Qixiong whose vessel was involved in the collision in September 2010.

Japan had claimed reimbursement for repairing “two Coast Guard patrol vessels and for other costs, including official work time spent on the repairs,” the report said.

Following the incident, Japan had reportedly seized a Chinese boat and its crew, but returned later after being pressurised by China. (ANI)