Japanese authorities say they have seized a Chinese fishing vessel that tried to flee when ordered to stop for an inspection, in a move that may further fuel tensions with Beijing. The boat was in Japan's exclusive economic zone off Nagasaki Prefecture in the southwest when it was intercepted and its captain arrested on Thursday, according to the country's fisheries agency.
The vessel's captain was ordered to stop for an inspection by a fisheries inspector, but the vessel failed to comply and fled, the fisheries agency said. This seizure is the first time since 2022 that the agency has taken action against a Chinese fishing boat. China has yet to react to Japan's statement.
There were 11 people aboard the vessel, including the captain who is a 47-year-old Chinese national, the fisheries agency reported. Authorities and Japanese media have described the seized vessel as a tiger net fishing boat with a high capacity.
This incident comes amid strained relations, particularly after Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in November that Tokyo might intervene militarily if Beijing sought to take Taiwan by force. China claims Taiwan is its territory and has not ruled out using force to achieve what it calls reunification.
In response to Takaichi’s comments, which China's foreign ministry deemed egregious, Beijing summoned Tokyo's ambassador and warned its citizens to reconsider travel and study in Japan, significantly decreasing Chinese tourism and impacting stocks related to Japan's retail sector. Additionally, amid worsening diplomatic relations, cancellations of Japanese artists' tours and postponed films have occurred. Recently, Japan returned its last two pandas to China.
The vessel's captain was ordered to stop for an inspection by a fisheries inspector, but the vessel failed to comply and fled, the fisheries agency said. This seizure is the first time since 2022 that the agency has taken action against a Chinese fishing boat. China has yet to react to Japan's statement.
There were 11 people aboard the vessel, including the captain who is a 47-year-old Chinese national, the fisheries agency reported. Authorities and Japanese media have described the seized vessel as a tiger net fishing boat with a high capacity.
This incident comes amid strained relations, particularly after Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in November that Tokyo might intervene militarily if Beijing sought to take Taiwan by force. China claims Taiwan is its territory and has not ruled out using force to achieve what it calls reunification.
In response to Takaichi’s comments, which China's foreign ministry deemed egregious, Beijing summoned Tokyo's ambassador and warned its citizens to reconsider travel and study in Japan, significantly decreasing Chinese tourism and impacting stocks related to Japan's retail sector. Additionally, amid worsening diplomatic relations, cancellations of Japanese artists' tours and postponed films have occurred. Recently, Japan returned its last two pandas to China.
