Japan releases China boat captain in sea dispute-NHK

Japanese prosecutors have released the Chinese captain of a fishing boat that collided this month with two Japanese coast guard ships in disputed waters, Japanese public broadcaster NHK said on Friday.

Japanese authorities had accused boat captain Zhan Qixiong of deliberately striking patrol ships and obstructing public officers near islets in the East China Sea claimed by both countries, while China has demanded that Japan immediately release him. (Reuters)