Coming home

The release yesterday of Chinese fishing boat captain Zhan Qixiong (right) ended a tense 17 days since he and his crew were detained by Japan's coastguard on September 7 near the Diaoyu Islands, which Japan calls the Senkakus

Sep 7: China expresses great concern and summons ambassador Uchiro Niwa

Sep 8: Zhan formally arrested for obstruction; he, his ship and crew taken to Ishigaki Island

Sep 9: Case goes to prosecutors; China warns of 'a serious impact' on relations

Sep 11: Chinese ship orders two Japan coastguard vessels to stop operations northwest of Okinawa; Tokyo protests; China postpones talks on joint exploration of gas fields

Sep 12: Niwa summoned for fourth time

Sep 13: Japan releases Zhan's crew, who fly home (below)