By Alastair Gale and Gareth Allan
(Bloomberg) – Japan has taken action against a Chinese fishing vessel that entered its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near Nagasaki. The ship tried to evade inspection, leading to the arrest of its captain and highlighting ongoing tensions between Japan and China.
The captain was arrested around 12:23 p.m. on Thursday after the vessel entered Japan's EEZ and attempted to flee to avoid being questioned, as reported by Japan's Fisheries Agency. This is the first time since 2022 that Japan has seized a Chinese fishing vessel.
Japan's government spokesperson stated the details of the incident are still being investigated. "To prevent illegal fishing by foreign vessels, we will continue to take firm enforcement actions," said Minoru Kihara during a press conference.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged Japan to ensure the crew's safety and rights. "The Chinese government requires its fishermen to operate according to laws and regulations while protecting their legitimate rights and interests," Lin Jian mentioned in a regular briefing.
This incident adds to the strained relationship between Beijing and Tokyo, which were already tense after remarks from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November about Taiwan. Takaichi suggested in parliament that a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan could threaten Japan's security, prompting a strong backlash from China.
These comments are significant because they suggest Japan might use its military in response to such an invasion. Beijing has demanded Takaichi retract her statements and has imposed export controls, additionally advising its citizens against traveling to Japan.
An EEZ extends typically 200 nautical miles (230 miles) from a country's shoreline, granting it exclusive rights to explore and utilize natural resources in that area. Japan's Fisheries Agency released a map indicating the Chinese vessel's entry into its EEZ. However, the arrest took place after the ship had left the EEZ.
Seizing ships and arresting foreign fishing crews is rare for Japan. Over the five years leading to 2025, officials boarded foreign vessels 30 times, including two Chinese ships last year, according to agency data. Only five ships were seized during this period, with just one of them being Chinese in 2022.
The highest number of detentions of Chinese fishing boats by Japan occurred in 2017, with four vessels being detained. Typically, arrests of crew members are reserved for serious violations.
Takaichi has not retracted her statements, but after winning a national election decisively, she mentioned that Japan continues to communicate with China at "various levels" and will respond "calmly and appropriately" while considering Japan's national interests.
In the meantime, Chinese state media have issued commentaries warning about the potential implications for regional security arising from what they perceive as a strengthened Japanese leadership. A commentary from Xinhua mentioned that Takaichi might unleash "three demons" that could disrupt peace in East Asia, pointing to her plans to amend the constitution, increase defense spending, and pursue offensive weaponry.
Wu Jianghao, China's ambassador to Japan, stated at a Lunar New Year reception earlier this week that bilateral relations have reached their "most severe and difficult situation" since both countries normalized diplomatic ties in 1972, according to the embassy's official WeChat account.
The most notable incident between China and Japan regarding detained fishing vessels occurred in 2010 when the captain of a Chinese trawler was arrested and held for 17 days after colliding with two Japanese Coast Guard vessels near disputed islands in the East China Sea. These islands are controlled by Japan but also claimed by China.
Tensions continue to rise around these islands, known as the Senkakus in Japan and Diaoyu in China, as Chinese coast guard vessels have increased their patrols in the area. Last year, Chinese government ships were noted in the waters around the islands on 356 days, a slight increase from 355 days the previous year, according to Japan's coast guard.