On Thursday, Japanese officials took custody of a Chinese fishing vessel that was caught fishing illegally in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and detained the captain.
According to reports from NHK, a patrol boat from the Japan Fisheries Agency located the vessel about 165 kilometers southwest of Mejima in Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture.
The Chinese ship ignored commands to halt, which led to its seizure.
Kyodo News identified the captain as Zheng Nianli, a 47-year-old Chinese national.
This high-capacity boat, termed a “tiger net fishing boat,” is capable of catching large quantities of fish like mackerel and horse mackerel. At the time of the incident, there were 11 crew members on board. This event marks Japan’s first seizure of a foreign fishing vessel in 2026 and the first instance of a Chinese vessel being taken since 2022.
Japan’s Fisheries Agency stated, “The captain was ordered to stop for inspection by a fisheries inspector, but the vessel did not comply and fled.”
During a regular press briefing on Friday, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara mentioned that the investigation is ongoing and emphasized the government’s commitment to taking firm action against illegal fishing activities by foreign vessels.
In response, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, asserted that the Chinese government urges its fishermen to operate within legal boundaries while upholding their rights. He expressed hope that Japan will adhere to the Japan-China Fisheries Agreement and ensure the safety and rights of the Chinese crew.
This seizure of the Chinese fishing boat comes amidst existing tensions and troubled diplomatic relations between Japan and China.
In November, following remarks from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the Chinese Communist Party expressed displeasure over his comments about a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan, deeming it a “worst-case scenario” for Japan that could lead to military deployment.
