Japan to ask China to pay for damaged patrol vessels
The Chinese trawler was seized after the collision in the East China Sea
Japan will ask China to pay for damage to two patrol vessels caused by a collision with a Chinese trawler in disputed waters, Tokyo has said.
"We will be asking for the boats to be returned to their original condition," government spokesman Yoshito Sengoku said at a news conference.
The collision earlier this month led to the worst diplomatic crisis between the two neighbouring countries in years.
The Chinese captain was held by Japan for two weeks and only freed last week.
Japan turned down China's demand for a formal apology after Zhan Qixiong was eventually released last Friday.
DetentionsThe collision happened near disputed islands in the East China Sea, known as the Senkaku islands in Japan and the Diaoyu islands in China.
Beijing then cut off ministerial-level contacts between the two countries and thousands of Chinese tourists pulled out of trips to Japan.
Ongoing disputes
- Gas fields: The countries argue over gas exploration rights in the East China Sea
- Disputed islands: Both countries claim ownership of Senkaku/Diaoyu islands
- Yasukuni Shrine: Memorial to Japan's war dead which China sees as glorifying war criminals
Concerts by Japan's top boy band SMAP due to take place in Shanghai were cancelled by the Chinese organisers.
Tensions were further heightened when China detained four Japanese last week.
The four, who were working for a Japanese construction company, were questioned on suspicion of filming in a military zone.
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