The Japan Coast Guard last week arrested the captain of a Chinese fishing boat for refusing inspection in Japanese territorial waters.
Tianxiong Zhang, 47, captain of the 135-ton Zhedaiyu 04188, was arrested on 6 November after ignoring an order to stop. He was transferred to Nagasaki port on Monday, and, if convicted, could be imprisoned for six months or fined JPY 300,000 (USD 3,800).
According to the Nagasaki Coast Guard Office, the order to halt came around 10:30 a.m., when his vessel was about 5 km northwest of the uninhabited Torishima Island in the East China Sea, about 60 kilometers southwest of the Goto island chain. Following a zigzagging 4.5-hour chase, the Coast Guard vessel intentionally collided with the boat to stop it.
Japanese fishermen based in the Goto chain say the area is a rich fishing ground for squid, sea bream and mackerel.
The incident comes 14 months after Chinese trawler rammed Japanese patrol boats near the disputed Senkaku islets in the East China Sea. In response, Beijing halted ministerial talks, detained employees of construction company Fujita Corp. on spying charges, and blocked exports of rare earth metals necessary for many high-tech applications.
Japan’s Prime Minister at the time, Naoto Kan, quickly backed down, arranging for charges to be dropped and the captain sent home. His perceived weakness contributed to a rapid decline in the popularity of his administration.
Undersea oil reserves are at the heart of China’s increasingly aggressive maritime claims. The country’s pending launch of an aircraft carrier and its development of stealth fighter jets add muscle to its demand for joint development of disputed maritime claims.
However, Sunday’s incident is less likely to cause a diplomatic incident, because it did not occur in disputed territory. Rather than a test of sovereignty, it will serve as a test of how vigorously Japan dares defend against poaching by its powerful neighbor.
“The case is being handled appropriately based on the Japanese law,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said in a press briefing. “We are considering it as an ordinary incident.”
China’s Foreign Ministry has not protested, but only requested that the incident be resolved quickly.
The case may bear a closer resemblance to the seizure of three Chinese fishing boats by South Korean Marine Police on 22 October. The vessels were suspected of illegal fishing and 31 Chinese crewmen were detained after resisting boarding by wielding shovels and other tools. Korea has agreed to release the crews and vessels without charge.
