Tension between China and Japan

China today called on Japan to leave immediately and unconditionally free the 14 Chinese activists were arrested when they disembarked on the islands claimed by both countries and have for years intensive focus on relations between Beijing and Tokyo. Speaking with Japanese officials, Deputy Foreign Minister Fu Ying of China "has asked Japan to ensure the safety of 14 Chinese nationals and to release immediately and unconditionally," said the website of the Chinese ministry. Fu made the demarche "on the illegal detention of Chinese nationals in Ntiaogiou islands," the statement added. These islands are called Senkaku by the Japanese. The Japanese Coast Guard arrested five activists earlier from China, Hong Kong and Macao who landed on the islands and nine others remain in detention in the vessel.