Fan Liqing

BEIJING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- A mainland Taiwan affairs spokeswoman said Wednesday safeguarding sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands conforms to the common interests of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Safeguarding sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands is in the long-term interests of the Chinese nation, Fan Liqing, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said at a regular press conference.

On Sept. 7, two Japan Coast Guard patrol ships and a Chinese trawler collided in waters off the Diaoyu Islands. On the following day, Japan illegally seized the Chinese trawler and detained the trawler's captain and 14 fishermen on board.

The Japanese side let the 14 fishermen and the boat return to China on Sept. 15, and freed the captain last week after Chinese government's repeated demands for his return and warnings of "strong counter measures."