The Chinese boat was captured in Japan’s exclusive economic zone off Nagasaki Prefecture when it was intercepted by the Japanese authorities, following which the captain was arrested
As tensions between Japan and China brew, Tokyo has said that it has said that it seized a Chinese shipping vessel that tried to flee when asked to stop by authorities.
The Chinese boat was captured in Japan’s exclusive economic zone off Nagasaki Prefecture when it was intercepted by the Japanese authorities, following which the captain was arrested.
“The vessel’s captain was ordered to stop for an inspection by a fisheries inspector, but the vessel failed to comply and fled,” Japan’s fisheries agency said. The seizure is the first one done by Japanese authorities since 2022.
Japan said that the boat had 11 people on board, including the captain, who was a 47-year old Chinese man. Authorities have described the ship as a “tiger net fishing boat” with a high capacity.
China-Japan row
The development comes as a diplomatic row between
China and Japan continues to simmer after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi commented on Taiwan, seen as an interference by China as it considers the island-nation part of its own territory.
China and Japan are key trading partners, but historical mistrust and friction over territorial rivalries and military spending often test those ties.
China had summoned Tokyo’s ambassador and advised its citizens against travel to Japan after the clash over Takaichi’s comments.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in November that Japan should “behave with dignity” and take “concrete actions, including retracting Takaichi’s statement, to repair ties.”
China bans export of rare minerals
In January, China banned the export of some rare earth minerals to Japan over Takaechi’s comments. While the Commerce Ministry did not specify which exports would be affected, a list of dual-use items released by the agency includes rare earths, advanced electronics, aerospace and aviation components, drones, and nuclear-related technologies, among others.
Rare earth elements are essential to a broad range of products, from consumer electronics and automobiles to advanced weapons systems such as the F-35 fighter jet. In 2024, Japan sourced 63 per cent of its rare earth imports from China, according to a CNN analysis of data from Japan’s finance ministry. The full scope of the latest restrictions and their potential impact on Japan remains unclear.
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