Tokyo, Japan – Japan announced it has detained a Chinese fishing vessel in its waters. The move could further escalate diplomatic tensions with China, amid growing disputes between the two countries over territorial and security issues. The Japan Fisheries Agency said the vessel was sailing within Japan’s exclusive economic zone off the coast of Nagasaki Prefecture in the southwest. The vessel was ordered to stop for inspection on Thursday, but it failed to comply and attempted to flee.
The agency added in a statement: “The ship’s captain was ordered to stop for inspection by a fisheries inspector, but the vessel failed to comply and fled.” It noted that the boat was intercepted and its captain, a 47-year-old Chinese national, was arrested. The agency stated that there were 11 people on board. Japanese authorities described the boat as a high-capacity “tiger net” type. This is the first seizure of a Chinese fishing vessel since 2022. There was no immediate comment from Beijing on the Japanese announcement.
For his part, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said on Friday, “We will continue to take resolute measures in our enforcement activities to prevent and deter illegal fishing by foreign vessels.” The incident comes amid strained relations between the two countries following remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sana Takaichi last November. At the time, the prime minister indicated that Tokyo might intervene militarily if Beijing attempted to seize Taiwan by force.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve what it calls “reunification.” The Chinese Foreign Ministry described Takaichi’s remarks as “outrageous” and summoned Tokyo’s ambassador. It also warned its citizens to reconsider travel to or study in Japan. The diplomatic row has led to a significant drop in the number of Chinese tourists visiting Japan, and the stocks of tourism and retail companies have been affected. Performances by Japanese artists in China have been canceled, and the release of Japanese films has been postponed. The last two pandas were returned from Japan to China last month, a symbolic indication of the deteriorating cultural relations between the two countries.
