The news comes a day after China's top diplomat appealed to the Japanese to free the crew.

The fishing boat reportedly rammed Japanese coast guard patrol boats which had been trying to intercept it.

The incident occurred off an island closer to Taiwan than to Japan, and claimed by both Japan and China.

Xinhua, the Chinese state broadcaster, said 14 crew members had been released, but did not specifically mention the captain, who has been formally arrested by the police.