Major Exchanges between Japan and the People's Republic of China
concerning the Collision Incident between Japan Coast Guard Patrol Vessels and a Chinese Fishing Trawler
in Japanese Territorial Waters off the Senkaku Islands

Tuesday, September 7

Morning:: The collision incident occurred.
Evening to Night:: Ambassador Uichiro Niwa held talks with Mr. Song Tao, Member of the Ministerial Leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China (Vice-Minister level).
Mr. Akitaka Saiki, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, made a phone call to Ambassador Cheng Yonghua to lodge a protest.

Before dawn:: The captain of the fishing trawler was arrested on charges of obstruction of the execution of official duties.
Noon:: Ambassador Uichiro Niwa held talks with Mr. Hu Zhengyue, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.
Afternoon:: Mr. Koro Bessho, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, filed a protest with Ambassador Cheng Yonghua.

Morning:: The captain of the fishing trawler was referred to the Naha District Public Prosecutors Office.
Noon:: Ambassador Uichiro Niwa held talks with Mr. Wang Guangya, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.

Around 10:00 a.m.:: Ambassador Uichiro Niwa held talks with Dr. Yang Jiechi, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Before dawn:: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China unilaterally announced the "postponement" of the second round of negotiations to conclude international agreements on natural resource development in the East China Sea.

Before dawn:: Ambassador Uichiro Niwa held talks with Mr. Dai Bingguo, State Councilor.

Morning to noon:: Fourteen members of the crew, excluding the captain, and the fishing trawler left Japan for China.

Evening:: Ambassador Uichiro Niwa held talks with Mr. Liu Zhenmin, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Evening:: The detention of the captain of the fishing trawler was extended for ten days.
Night:: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China announced that they "would take strong counter measures" against Japan on its website.
Xinhua News Agency reported the temporal suspension of mutual visits by ministerial level officials and above and the cancellation of aviation talks between Japan and China. The same announcement was made by a spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China by September 20.
Ambassador Uichiro Niwa had a phone conversation with Mr. Wang Guangya, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.
China notified Japan of the postponement of a visit of 1,000 Japanese youths to Expo 2010 Shanghai China, which was scheduled for September 21.

Morning (Local time (NY): Night of September 21):: Premier Wen Jiabao, during his visit to New York, suggested that the Japanese side release the Chinese captain of the fishing trawler immediately and unconditionally, in his statement.

2:30 p.m.:: The Naha District Public Prosecutors Office announced the decision to release the Chinese captain of the fishing trawler. After the announcement, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan informed the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo of the decision through diplomatic channels.

Before dawn:: The Chinese captain of the fishing trawler left Japan by a plane chartered by the Chinese government.
Morning:: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China released a statement on its website.
Afternoon:: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan released a statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations.