On Thursday, Japan's Fisheries Agency spotted a Chinese fishing vessel approximately 102 miles southwest of Meshima Island in Nagasaki Prefecture, operating within Japan's exclusive economic zone. When fisheries inspectors ordered the boat to stop for an inspection, the captain refused and attempted to flee. Japanese authorities intercepted the vessel, which had 11 people aboard, and arrested the 47-year-old captain, Zheng Nianli, on suspicion of evading inspection. The boat, identified as the Qiong Dong Yu 11998, a high-capacity "tiger net" vessel used for catching mackerel and horse mackerel, remains in Japanese custody as evidence.
This marks Japan's first seizure of a Chinese fishing vessel since 2022. Japan seized two other foreign vessels in 2025 (one Taiwanese, one South Korean) as part of ongoing enforcement against illegal fishing. Between 2021-2025, Japanese authorities boarded foreign ships 30 times but seized only five vessels, with arrests of crew members reserved for serious violations. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated Japan would continue "resolute action" to prevent illegal fishing by foreign vessels.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian responded that China requires its fishermen to operate legally while safeguarding their rights, and urged Japan to "enforce the law impartially" and protect crew members' safety and legitimate interests under the China-Japan fisheries agreement.