Seven of the 14 Chinese nationals who were illegally detained by Japanese police when going to the Diaoyu Islands Wednesday arrived in Hong Kong by plane at around 7:50 p.m. local time Friday.

The seven people boarded a plane taking off from Naha Airport in southwest Japan at around 6:40 p.m. local time Friday.

The other group of seven have also boarded a plane of Japan Coast Guard to fly to Ishigaki Island where their vessel was detained and will return later Friday by their boat, according to local media reports.

The Japanese Cabinet announced Friday morning that it had decided to release all the 14 Chinese nationals.

China's Foreign Ministry said Friday that China holds a "firm stance" over the Diaoyu Islands, and any of Japan's unilateral moves against Chinese nationals is illegal and invalid.

The 14 Chinese, despite obstruction by Japan Coast Guard patrol ships, arrived at the Diaoyu Islands by a Hong Kong fishing vessel on Wednesday to assert China's sovereignty over the islands. They were arrested by Japanese police on suspicion of "illegal entry."

(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2012)