The move was apparently intended to quickly settle the smoldering diplomatic row with China.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said the activists were not handed over to prosecutors to avoid hurting bilateral relations with China.

The Chinese government had demanded Japan immediately release the seven, on grounds that the island group is Chinese territory.

A top Foreign Ministry official said that the latest incident demonstrates that Japan has effective control over the islands.

"We were able to show that Japan has fangs" when it comes to the issue of sovereignty over the Senkakus, the official said on condition of anonymity.

The Japan Times Weekly: April 3, 2004
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