Chinese Activists Return from Disputed Islands
- 12 years ago
A boat carrying seven Chinese activists returned to Hong Kong today (August 21) after it sailed to disputed islands in the East China Sea.
These islands are known as the Senkaku in Japan, Diaoyu in China, and Tiaoyutai in Taiwan.
China and Japan have had a decades-long dispute over the island chain, which is near potentially huge maritime gas fields.
The boat that returned to Hong Kong today was in the centre of a diplomatic storm last week when it carried fourteen Chinese activists to the islands. Seven of those on board slipped past Japan's Coast Guard to land on one of the uninhabited isles.
Footage shot today by Hong Kong broadcaster ATV shows officials from the immigration department talking with crew members on the boat.
Japanese coast guards had detained all 14 people - including two Chinese television journalists - before releasing them last Friday.
These islands are known as the Senkaku in Japan, Diaoyu in China, and Tiaoyutai in Taiwan.
China and Japan have had a decades-long dispute over the island chain, which is near potentially huge maritime gas fields.
The boat that returned to Hong Kong today was in the centre of a diplomatic storm last week when it carried fourteen Chinese activists to the islands. Seven of those on board slipped past Japan's Coast Guard to land on one of the uninhabited isles.
Footage shot today by Hong Kong broadcaster ATV shows officials from the immigration department talking with crew members on the boat.
Japanese coast guards had detained all 14 people - including two Chinese television journalists - before releasing them last Friday.