Japanese authorities seized a Chinese fishing vessel and arrested its 47-year-old captain after he refused to stop for inspection within Japan's exclusive economic zone off Nagasaki Prefecture, sparking a new round of tensions between Tokyo and Beijing.
The Japanese Fisheries Agency stated that officials ordered the vessel to stop for inspection, but it ignored the order and tried to escape, leading to the captain's detention. The incident occurred Thursday within Japan's exclusive economic zone, about 165 kilometers southwest of Meshima Island. There were 11 crew members aboard. This marks the first time since 2022 that Japan has seized a Chinese fishing vessel.
Japan and China have multiple territorial disputes, especially around the Senkaku Islands—known as Diaoyu in China—in the East China Sea. The 2010 detention of a Chinese fishing captain in this area escalated into a major diplomatic crisis between the two nations.
The latest situation grew more complex after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicated that Japan might consider military intervention if China uses force to seize Taiwan, provoking strong displeasure in Beijing.
China has consistently asserted that Taiwan is its territory and has not ruled out using force to achieve reunification. Meanwhile, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen warned in an interview that if China succeeds in taking Taiwan, countries such as Japan, the Philippines, and others in the Indo-Pacific region could be next under pressure.
Following Takaichi's remarks, China summoned the Japanese ambassador, warned Chinese citizens about traveling to Japan, and conducted joint air exercises with Russia. Additionally, Japan reported that Chinese J-15 fighter jets from the aircraft carrier Liaoning locked radar onto Japanese aircraft in international waters near Okinawa in December.
China has also tightened exports of potentially military-use goods to Japan, reportedly suspended imports of Japanese seafood, and returned its last two pandas to China last month, reflecting a clear cooling in bilateral relations.
.source:channelnewsasia
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