Japan to free Chinese boat captain amid row

Japan is to release a Chinese fishing boat captain whose arrest two weeks ago led to the worst row with Beijing in years, Japanese media report.

The Japanese authorities had accused Zhan Qixiong of deliberately ramming two patrol vessels near 

disputed islands in the East China Sea.

China had been demanding his immediate and unconditional release.

The move came after four Japanese men were detained in China on suspicion of illegally filming in a military area.

A Japanese foreign ministry spokesman said its embassy in Beijing had received confirmation that the four were being held, but he said he did not want to speculate whether it was linked to Japan's detention of a Chinese fishing boat captain.

Officials said the four men were employees of a Japanese construction company who were in China to bid for a project to dispose of chemical weapons from World War II.

Escalating tensions

At a news conference, prosecutors in Naha, Okinawa, said Mr Zhan was "just a fishing boat captain" and had no criminal record in Japan.

They did not perceive any premeditated intent to damage the patrol boats, said Toru Suzuki, the office's vice prosecutor, the Associated Press reported.

"We have decided that further investigation while keeping the captain in custody would not be appropriate, considering the impact on the people of our country as well as the Japan-China relations in the future," he said.

It was unclear when he would be released.

Tensions had escalated since Japan detained the Chinese captain.

China issued a series of diplomatic protests, cancelled official visits and cultural events, and said that the row could seriously harm relations.

Earlier this week Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said that Japan bore full responsibility for the situation and demanded the immediate release of the captain.

On Thursday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged the two sides to settle the issue before it had a long-term impact on the region.

The Japanese coastguard arrested Zhan Qixiong on 8 September after his trawler collided with two of their patrol boats in an area claimed by both countries, near uninhabited islands which may have oil and gas deposits

Japanese prosecutors had until next Wednesday to decide whether or not to charge the man.