Japan Captures Chinese Fishing Boat Violating Territorial Waters, Escalating Tensions

On February 13, the Japanese authorities reported capturing a Chinese fishing boat that tried to escape during a routine inspection. The vessel was located in Japan's exclusive economic zone near Nagasaki Prefecture's southwestern coast on Thursday, February 12. The Fisheries Agency stated that the boat's captain was ordered to stop for inspection but attempted to flee before being ultimately controlled. This marks the first such seizure since 2022, with Japanese media describing it as a high-capacity 'tiger net fishing boat'. The incident occurs amid already strained relations, particularly following Prime Minister Sanae Takaiichi's controversial statement about potential military intervention if China attempts to forcibly take Taiwan.