Beijing:
China today put off its talks with Japan on the East China Sea issue amid a diplomatic row over the detention of a captain and crew of a Chinese fishing boat that was "seized" after it collided with two Japanese patrol vessels near disputed islands.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said tonight that China has put off its talks with Japan on the East China Sea issue as part of its response to the seizure of a Chinese fishing boat.
The decision came after a Japanese court granted a request by prosecutors for a 10-day detention of the captain of a Chinese trawler which collided with Japanese patrol ships off the disputed Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea on Tuesday.
The postponed talks, the second governmental negotiations on the principle common understandings on the East China Sea issue, was scheduled for mid September, according to Jiang.
"The Japanese side has ignored China's repeated solemn representations and firm opposition, and obstinately decided to put the Chinese captain under the so-called judiciary procedures. China expresses strong discontent and grave protest to the move," Jiang said.
"The Diaoyu islands and its adjacent islets have been Chinese territory since ancient times. Japan's acts have violated the law of nations and basic international common sense, and is ridiculous, illegal and invalid," Jiang said.
"Japan will reap as it has sown, if it continues to act recklessly," she warned.
Earlier the Japanese Ambassador was summoned for a third time in four days to demand the release of the captain and crew of a fishing vessel seized off disputed islands.
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi summoned Japanese Ambassador to China Uichiro Niwa, protested against Japan's illegal seizure of a Chinese fishing boat in waters off the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, which was claimed by China, Japan and Taiwan.