Japan warned by China in islands dispute

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has threatened action against Japan if it does not immediately release a ship captain detained near disputed islands.

The issue has led Beijing to suspend ministerial-level contacts with Tokyo. Mr Wen laid the blame for the dispute entirely at Japan's door. Tokyo "bears full responsibility for the situation, and it will bear all consequences," he told a gathering of overseas Chinese in New York.

Japan arrested the Chinese captain of a fishing boat that collided two weeks ago with Japanese coast guard vessels near islands in the East China Sea claimed by both nations.