WORLD : Hijacker’s Return to China Near
- Share via
TOKYO — Tokyo’s High Court cleared the way today for the forcible return to China of a man who hijacked an aircraft to Japan and asked for political asylum.
The court decision ended a two-month legal battle in which the hijacker, Zhang Zhenhai, argued he deserved asylum because he played a prominent role in last year’s pro-democracy protests in China and would face execution if he was returned home. Zhang seized a Beijing-San Francisco flight of China’s national airline Dec. 16 and forced the plane to land at Fukuoka, in western Japan.
Justice Minister Shin Hasegawa has to make a final decision on the matter within 31 days.
The court decision was welcomed by the Chinese Embassy but denounced by Chinese dissident groups and the local chapter of the human rights organization Amnesty International.
Judge Mitsuo Funada ruled that Zhang cannot not be regarded as a genuine political offender and that there is no clear evidence he will face charges over the Tian An Men Square demonstrations.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
More From the Los Angeles Times
Podcasts
John Orr was a renowned fire investigator who was also a prolific arsonist, and whose thinly veiled novel helped to convict him. In this episode we hear from the fire captain who first suspected him—and from Orr himself.
Madison McGhee is joined by legendary Dateline host Josh Mankiewicz and esteemed L.A. Times Reporter Richard Winton as the three of them dive into all-things Menendez Brothers, the good, the bad, and the still unknown.
NPR climate editor Sadie Babits talks about why the media has long overlooked the climate crisis, and how that’s starting to change.
