Japan Seizes Chinese Vessel for Fleeing, Tensions Soar with Beijing

• Japan captured a Chinese shipping vessel in its exclusive economic zone off Nagasaki Prefecture after it tried to flee an inspection.
• The vessel's captain, a 47-year-old Chinese man, was arrested; the boat had 11 people and was described as a "tiger net fishing boat."
• This is Japan's first seizure of a foreign vessel since 2022, escalating ongoing diplomatic tensions.
• The incident follows a diplomatic row over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's comments on Taiwan, which China views as interference.
• China previously banned exports of some rare earth minerals to Japan and advised its citizens against travel to Japan due to the dispute.