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Japan Releases Chinese Fishing Boat Captain

On September 24th, the Japanese Public Prosecutors Office released the Chinese fishing boat captain who had been in detention for ramming two Japanese patrol bo...

Federal News Network Staff

September 29, 2010 10:22 am

< a min read

wfedstaff | June 3, 2015 2:37 pm

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On September 24th, the Japanese Public Prosecutors Office released the Chinese fishing boat captain who had been in detention for ramming two Japanese patrol boats. Japan caved mostly because of Japanese business pressure. Chinese retaliation included postponing bilateral gas development talks, a halt to public and private exchanges, and the suspension of rare earth exports to Japan. This might be short term wise and long term foolish because it sets the precedent that Japan backed down from rightfully prosecuting a law breaker in Japanese claimed waters. The next incident will be more difficult to handle and the stakes will likely be higher.