Japan seizes Chinese fishing boat, arrests skipper

TOKYO, Feb 13 (Reuters) - ‌Japanese authorities ​have ​seized a Chinese fishing boat and arrested its captain for allegedly ‌fleeing inspection in its exclusive economic zone, ⁠an incident that could further inflame tensions between Asia's ‌top two economies.

The ‌captain, a 47-year-old Chinese national, is accused of ignoring orders to stop for an ​on-board inspection on Thursday in waters off southwest Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan's fisheries agency ⁠said.

There were a further 10 people on board at the time, ​the agency said.

While Japan has seized fishing vessels from South Korea and ​Taiwan in recent years, ‌the incident is the first involving a vessel from China since 2022 ⁠and comes against the backdrop of a major diplomatic dispute between the countries.

"We will continue ⁠to take resolute action in our enforcement activities to ​prevent and deter illegal fishing operations by foreign vessels," Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a ‌regular press conference on Friday.

China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to ‌a request for comment.

(Reporting by Mariko Katsumura, ⁠John Geddie and ‌Anton Bridge in ​Tokyo and Joe Cash in Beijing; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Saad ‌Sayeed)

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