Is this stoking the fire? On the 12th, Japan detained a fishing vessel from mainland China and arrested its captain, an incident that quickly attracted widespread attention from international media due to its occurrence during a highly tense moment in Sino-Japanese relations. This reaction also indicates that this is not an ordinary fishing dispute; if Japan does not promptly release the Chinese captain and other related personnel and property, and resolve this issue, it would only exacerbate the current situation and may lead to unpredictable chain reactions.
According to Kyodo News, on the 13th, Japan's Fisheries Agency Kyushu Fisheries Adjustment Office reported that on the 12th, about 170 kilometers southwest of Nakanoshima in Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture, the Fisheries Agency forcibly detained a Chinese fishing vessel carrying 11 people on suspicion of ignoring a stop order and fleeing, and arrested the 47-year-old captain, a Chinese national.
It should be noted that the Japanese side reported the incident location to be about 170 kilometers from the coastline of their islands, which is already far from the Japanese coastline. Japan's hardline enforcement in a marginal sea area itself carries a provocative and demonstrative meaning. The Japanese side claims that this sea area is located within its proclaimed "Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)" and issued a stop order to the Chinese fishing vessel, requesting boarding for inspection. Faced with the improper enforcement demands from the Japanese side, the fishing vessel did not comply and left the scene. Subsequently, Japan deployed four law enforcement vessels to pursue and intercept the ship, ultimately forcibly stopping and detaining it, and arrested the captain on suspicion of violating Japan's "Fisheries Sovereignty Law."
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to Japan's detention of the Chinese fishing vessel by stating, "The Chinese government has always required Chinese fishermen to operate in accordance with the law and regulations, while firmly safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese fishermen. We hope that the Japanese side will strictly abide by the 'Sino-Japanese Fisheries Agreement', enforce the law fairly, and ensure the safety and legal rights of Chinese crew members." Afterward, when asked about the progress of the detained fishing vessel, the Ministry's response was, "The Chinese Consulate General in Fukuoka is assisting the relevant Chinese crew members in returning safely."
This is the first time this year that Japan's Fisheries Agency has detained a foreign fishing vessel; the last time Japan detained a fishing vessel from mainland China was in December 2022, when the reason was also that a Chinese fishing vessel "entered Japan's exclusive economic zone." At that time, Sino-Japanese relations were not as tense as they are now, and that incident did not attract much attention. It is worth noting that China has consistently not recognized Japan's unilateral claims of an exclusive economic zone in that sea area.
The most serious fishing dispute between China and Japan occurred in 2010, when a Japanese Coast Guard vessel collided with a Chinese fishing vessel in the Diaoyu Islands waters and detained the Chinese captain. Japan's rough actions led to the Diaoyu Islands crisis, prompting China to take a series of countermeasures against Japan, ultimately resulting in the release of the detained captain. During that period, some Japanese personnel in China were detained but were later released. China did not connect the aforementioned two incidents. Since then, Chinese fishery patrol vessels have regularly patrolled the Diaoyu Islands waters.
Overall, there are not many fishing disputes between China and Japan, although the Japanese side always complains that there are too many Chinese fishing vessels in their "exclusive economic zone". However, some media reports indicated that the Tokyo government had privately urged Japanese fishermen to avoid conflicts in the Diaoyu Islands to avoid provoking China. There are more fishing disputes between Japan and Taiwan; Taiwanese fishermen often face rough treatment from the Japanese side while operating in the area, frequently being detained and fined heavily. Last year, Japan detained two foreign fishing vessels, one from Taiwan and another from South Korea. In 2024, Japan also detained a Taiwanese fishing vessel, releasing the people and the ship only after the Taiwanese fishermen paid the fines.
Fishing disputes are generally resolved in a mild manner internationally. If the detained party takes extreme measures, it would provoke emotional opposition from the society of the relevant country, which would believe that the other party is seeking trouble or maliciously escalating the situation.
Today, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshi Kajiyama made a strong statement, claiming, "To prevent foreign vessels from engaging in illegal fishing activities, we will continue to take resolute actions and carry out enforcement activities." On social media, Japanese netizens' comments are quite complex; some are very aggressive, claiming, "We should have done this long ago; our previous governments have long been bribed by China. Thanks to Takagi, we have changed our national security stance." However, there are also voices criticizing the Japanese side: "Detaining a vessel just 1 kilometer away from the temporary separation zone between Japan and China is a reckless provocation. At sea, 1 kilometer is merely a margin of error. Given the already highly tense situation, this appears to be a deliberate escalation of conflict. What is the Japanese government thinking?"
Sino-Japanese relations are currently at a highly confrontational and sensitive moment. To prevent the situation from escalating uncontrollably, it is necessary to avoid various direct physical friction. First, military friction should be avoided; once it occurs, the consequences will be explosive, and Japan will undoubtedly bear very serious consequences, with China sure to give Japan a heavy lesson that they will remember for decades, or even over a century. The fishing dispute that occurred on the 12th must also be resolved quickly; if the Japanese side acts recklessly and engages in nationalist expansion, the development of the situation will inevitably exceed the framework of the fishing dispute, igniting geopolitical sparks, and Japan will similarly suffer severe retaliation from China.
Old Hu advises Japan to follow international conventions and reason, proactively cool down the incident and show goodwill. They need to "politicize" and actively avoid a fishing dispute igniting into a raging fire against the backdrop of the current Sino-Japanese conflict. This is a warning they must heed and deeply understand.
According to Kyodo News, on the 13th, Japan's Fisheries Agency Kyushu Fisheries Adjustment Office reported that on the 12th, about 170 kilometers southwest of Nakanoshima in Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture, the Fisheries Agency forcibly detained a Chinese fishing vessel carrying 11 people on suspicion of ignoring a stop order and fleeing, and arrested the 47-year-old captain, a Chinese national.
It should be noted that the Japanese side reported the incident location to be about 170 kilometers from the coastline of their islands, which is already far from the Japanese coastline. Japan's hardline enforcement in a marginal sea area itself carries a provocative and demonstrative meaning. The Japanese side claims that this sea area is located within its proclaimed "Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)" and issued a stop order to the Chinese fishing vessel, requesting boarding for inspection. Faced with the improper enforcement demands from the Japanese side, the fishing vessel did not comply and left the scene. Subsequently, Japan deployed four law enforcement vessels to pursue and intercept the ship, ultimately forcibly stopping and detaining it, and arrested the captain on suspicion of violating Japan's "Fisheries Sovereignty Law."
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to Japan's detention of the Chinese fishing vessel by stating, "The Chinese government has always required Chinese fishermen to operate in accordance with the law and regulations, while firmly safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese fishermen. We hope that the Japanese side will strictly abide by the 'Sino-Japanese Fisheries Agreement', enforce the law fairly, and ensure the safety and legal rights of Chinese crew members." Afterward, when asked about the progress of the detained fishing vessel, the Ministry's response was, "The Chinese Consulate General in Fukuoka is assisting the relevant Chinese crew members in returning safely."
This is the first time this year that Japan's Fisheries Agency has detained a foreign fishing vessel; the last time Japan detained a fishing vessel from mainland China was in December 2022, when the reason was also that a Chinese fishing vessel "entered Japan's exclusive economic zone." At that time, Sino-Japanese relations were not as tense as they are now, and that incident did not attract much attention. It is worth noting that China has consistently not recognized Japan's unilateral claims of an exclusive economic zone in that sea area.
The most serious fishing dispute between China and Japan occurred in 2010, when a Japanese Coast Guard vessel collided with a Chinese fishing vessel in the Diaoyu Islands waters and detained the Chinese captain. Japan's rough actions led to the Diaoyu Islands crisis, prompting China to take a series of countermeasures against Japan, ultimately resulting in the release of the detained captain. During that period, some Japanese personnel in China were detained but were later released. China did not connect the aforementioned two incidents. Since then, Chinese fishery patrol vessels have regularly patrolled the Diaoyu Islands waters.
Overall, there are not many fishing disputes between China and Japan, although the Japanese side always complains that there are too many Chinese fishing vessels in their "exclusive economic zone". However, some media reports indicated that the Tokyo government had privately urged Japanese fishermen to avoid conflicts in the Diaoyu Islands to avoid provoking China. There are more fishing disputes between Japan and Taiwan; Taiwanese fishermen often face rough treatment from the Japanese side while operating in the area, frequently being detained and fined heavily. Last year, Japan detained two foreign fishing vessels, one from Taiwan and another from South Korea. In 2024, Japan also detained a Taiwanese fishing vessel, releasing the people and the ship only after the Taiwanese fishermen paid the fines.
Fishing disputes are generally resolved in a mild manner internationally. If the detained party takes extreme measures, it would provoke emotional opposition from the society of the relevant country, which would believe that the other party is seeking trouble or maliciously escalating the situation.
Today, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshi Kajiyama made a strong statement, claiming, "To prevent foreign vessels from engaging in illegal fishing activities, we will continue to take resolute actions and carry out enforcement activities." On social media, Japanese netizens' comments are quite complex; some are very aggressive, claiming, "We should have done this long ago; our previous governments have long been bribed by China. Thanks to Takagi, we have changed our national security stance." However, there are also voices criticizing the Japanese side: "Detaining a vessel just 1 kilometer away from the temporary separation zone between Japan and China is a reckless provocation. At sea, 1 kilometer is merely a margin of error. Given the already highly tense situation, this appears to be a deliberate escalation of conflict. What is the Japanese government thinking?"
Sino-Japanese relations are currently at a highly confrontational and sensitive moment. To prevent the situation from escalating uncontrollably, it is necessary to avoid various direct physical friction. First, military friction should be avoided; once it occurs, the consequences will be explosive, and Japan will undoubtedly bear very serious consequences, with China sure to give Japan a heavy lesson that they will remember for decades, or even over a century. The fishing dispute that occurred on the 12th must also be resolved quickly; if the Japanese side acts recklessly and engages in nationalist expansion, the development of the situation will inevitably exceed the framework of the fishing dispute, igniting geopolitical sparks, and Japan will similarly suffer severe retaliation from China.
Old Hu advises Japan to follow international conventions and reason, proactively cool down the incident and show goodwill. They need to "politicize" and actively avoid a fishing dispute igniting into a raging fire against the backdrop of the current Sino-Japanese conflict. This is a warning they must heed and deeply understand.