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Japan 'expected to deport activists' in island row Japan to deport activists in islands row
(about 1 hour later)
Japan is expected to deport a group of activists who sailed to disputed islands, Japanese media reports say. Japan is to deport a group of activists who sailed to disputed islands, the government has confirmed.
Police have questioned the group, who sailed from Hong Kong, and they are being handed to immigration authorities, Japanese media said. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda had agreed to recommendations to send the group back, the top government spokesman said.
The group sailed to islands known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China on Wednesday. The group sailed from Hong Kong to islands known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China on Wednesday.
The case has sparked a diplomatic row and a number of small protests outside Japanese diplomatic missions.The case has sparked a diplomatic row and a number of small protests outside Japanese diplomatic missions.
Japan has decided to deport the activists, Kyodo news agency said, citing unidentified government sources. "We have confirmed that our response will be to deport those involved," Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura told journalists in Tokyo.
Nine members of the group were sent to the immigration bureau on Thursday night, while five activists who landed on one of the islands will be transferred there on Friday, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported. "There is still some paperwork to go through, so I can't comment on exactly what time this will happen."
"With the process, they will leave the hands of police and go to immigration," a police spokesman told AFP news. Mr Noda, speaking ahead of a weekly cabinet meeting, said it was "extremely regrettable that they illegally smuggled themselves on to our island of Senkaku despite our repeated warnings not to".
Chinese state media, quoting an unnamed Chinese diplomat, said all 14 would be sent back to Hong Kong ''no later than Friday''.
Peaceful resolutionPeaceful resolution
China has repeatedly called for the activists' immediate and unconditional release. China has repeatedly called for the activists' immediate release. Small groups of protesters also gathered outside Japanese diplomatic missions in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Small groups of protesters also gathered outside Japanese diplomatic missions in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
It is the first time non-Japanese nationals have landed on the islands - which are controlled by Japan - since 2004.It is the first time non-Japanese nationals have landed on the islands - which are controlled by Japan - since 2004.
Both Japan and China lodged formal protests with each other over the incident, while US urged the two nations to resolve the conflict peacefully. Both Japan and China lodged formal protests with each other over the incident, while the US urged the two nations to resolve the conflict peacefully.
Largely uninhabited, the islands are close to strategically important shipping lanes, offer rich fishing grounds and are thought to contain oil deposits. Largely uninhabited, the islands are close to strategically important shipping lanes, offer rich fishing grounds and are thought to contain oil deposits. Taiwan also claims them.
Rows over the disputed islands have caused ties to freeze between the two countries in the past. Rows over the disputed islands have caused Sino-Japanese ties to freeze in the past.
In September 2010, relations between China and Japan plummeted after the arrest of a Chinese trawler captain near the islands. In September 2010, relations plummeted after the arrest of a Chinese trawler captain near the islands.
The captain was accused of ramming two Japanese patrol vessels in the area, but Japan eventually dropped the charges against him.The captain was accused of ramming two Japanese patrol vessels in the area, but Japan eventually dropped the charges against him.
Are you from China, Japan or Taiwan? Are you familiar with the islands under dispute? What do you think of the row? Share your comments and experiences.