Japan wants China to pay for collision

TOKYO, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Japan wants China to pay for damages caused to Japanese Coast Guard ships when a Chinese fishing boat struck them, an official said.

The collision occurred earlier this month near a chain of disputed islets, and if China pays for the damages, it will improve relations between the two countries, a Japanese official said in a Kyodo News report.

Japanese prosecutors released the captain of the Chinese fishing trawler Saturday after repeated requests from Chinese officials, the report said.

''From now on, I believe Japan will begin a process of enriching its mutually beneficial and strategic relationship with China. At the moment, the ball is in China's court," said Yoshito Sengoku, Japan's chief cabinet secretary.