Japan says it seized Chinese vessel amid tensions with Beijing

The boat was in Japan's exclusive economic zone off Nagasaki Prefecture in the south-west when it was intercepted and its captain arrested on Thursday, according to the country's fisheries agency.

"The vessel's captain was ordered to stop for an inspection by a fisheries inspector, but the vessel failed to comply and fled," the fisheries agency said.

The seizure is the first time since 2022 that the agency has seized a Chinese fishing boat. China has yet to react to Japan's statement.

There were 11 people aboard, including the captain who is a 47-year-old Chinese national, the fisheries agency said.

Authorities and Japanese media have described the seized vessel as a "tiger net fishing boat" with a high capacity.

Thursday's incident comes amid strained relations after Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi enraged China in November by suggesting Tokyo would intervene militarily if Beijing sought to take Taiwan by force.

China has long insisted that Taiwan, occupied for decades by Japan until 1945, is its territory.

It has not ruled out using force to achieve what it calls "reunification".

In response to Takaichi's remarks, which China's foreign ministry described as "egregious", Beijing summoned Tokyo's ambassador and warned its citizens to reconsider travel and study in Japan.