Japan has arrested a Chinese fishing captain for evading inspection off Nagasaki, a move likely to escalate a diplomatic crisis fueled by recent disputes over Taiwan’s security.
Japanese authorities intercepted and seized a Chinese “tiger net” fishing boat on Thursday after it allegedly fled an inspection order within Japan’s exclusive economic zone. The Fisheries Agency arrested the 47-year-old captain, Zheng Nianli, approximately 166 kilometers southwest of Meshima Island. “The vessel’s captain was ordered to stop for an inspection… but the vessel failed to comply and fled,” the agency stated.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara vowed “resolute action” to deter illegal foreign fishing, noting this is the first such seizure of a Chinese boat since 2022. The incident follows a diplomatic freeze sparked by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent pledge to defend Taiwan militarily. Beijing, which previously responded with travel warnings and seafood bans, urged Tokyo to “fairly enforce the law.”