In brief
Japanese authorities have detained a Chinese fishing vessel in its exclusive economic zone, raising tensions with Beijing. This incident marks the first vessel seizure since 2022 and comes after comments from Japan's Prime Minister regarding potential military intervention in Taiwan. Relations between Japan and China continue to deteriorate as both nations navigate sensitive geopolitical issues.
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 south-west 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.
The seizure is the first time since 2022 that the agency has seized a Chinese fishing boat. China has yet to react to Japan's statement.
Authorities and Japanese media have described the seized vessel as a tiger net fishing boat with a high capacity.
Thursday's incident comes amid strained relations after Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi enraged China in November by suggesting 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.
It has not ruled out using force to achieve what it calls reunification.
In response to Takaichi's remarks, which China's foreign ministry described as egregious, Beijing summoned Tokyo's ambassador and warned its citizens to reconsider travel and study in Japan.
That led to a sharp drop in visits to Japan by Chinese tourists, and a subsequent hit to Japanese stocks related to tourism and retail.
As the diplomatic spat deepened during the end of 2025, Beijing repeatedly demanded that Takaichi retract her comments, and its foreign ministry warned Japan to stop playing with fire.
Japanese artists touring China have also had shows cancelled and releases of popular Japanese movies have been postponed.
Japan's last two pandas were even returned to China last month.
