Japanese authorities say they have seized a Chinese fishing boat that was trying to flee when it was ordered to stop for an inspection, a move that could further inflame tensions with Beijing.
The boat was in Japan’s exclusive economic zone, off the southwest prefecture of Nagasaki, when it was intercepted and its captain arrested on Thursday, according to Japan’s fisheries agency.
“The vessel’s captain was ordered to stop for an inspection by a fisheries inspector, but the vessel did not comply and fled,” the fisheries agency said.
The seizure is the first time since 2022 that the agency has seized a Chinese fishing boat. China has not yet reacted to Japan’s statement.
There were 11 people on board, including the captain, a 47-year-old Chinese national, the fisheries agency said.
Japanese authorities and media described the seized vessel as a “tiger net fishing boat” with a large capacity.
Thursday’s incident comes amid strained relations following the arrival of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. angry China in November by suggesting that Tokyo would intervene militarily if Beijing sought to take Taiwan by force.
China has long insisted that Taiwan, occupied for decades by Japan until 1945, is its territory.
He does not rule out using force to achieve what he calls “reunification”.
In response to Takaichi’s remarks, which China’s Foreign Ministry called “egregious,” Beijing summoned Tokyo’s ambassador and warned its citizens to reconsider traveling and studying in Japan.
This led to a sharp decline in Chinese tourist visits to Japan and a blow to Japanese stocks linked to tourism and retail.
As the diplomatic row intensified in late 2025, Beijing repeatedly asked Takaichi to retract his comments, and its Foreign Ministry warned Japan to “stop playing with fire.”
Japanese artists touring China have also had their shows canceled and releases of popular Japanese films have been postponed.