Tokyo, Mar 26: Japanese police were set to hand over custody of seven Chinese activists who landed on a disputed island to prosecutors later today, prolonging a diplomatic feud despite Beijing's demand for their immediate release. But the seven, who landed on the uninhabited island on Wednesday, are unlikely to be indicted and will eventually be handed over to immigration officials for deportation to China. The police could choose to hand over the detainees to immigration officials, which would open the door to speedy deportation, but have decided to send their case to the public prosecutors due to the ''seriousness'' of the incident. The flare-up of the dispute over the rocky island -- one of a cluster in the East China Sea claimed by China, Taiwan and Japan -- threatens to further fray ties between Tokyo and Beijing. Relations have already been strained by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's annual visits to Yasukuni shrine for war dead, where convicted war criminals are also honoured. The arrest of the Chinese, the first by Japanese police on the island, was denounced by Beijing and sparked flag-burning protests outside Tokyo's embassy in the Chinese capital.
A Japanese right-wing group is also making preparations for their own landing. Tokyo has tried to play down the incident's diplomatic impact, saying it would not adversely affect the entire bilateral relationship, and urging Beijing to act calmly.
The government had been trying to dissuade the Japanese right-wingers from travelling to the island, and the coast guard said it had issued an order banning the group's ship from setting off to the island. Bureau Report