Japan’s Coast Guard seized a Chinese fishing vessel and detained its crew on January 18, 2026, in waters near the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands the first such boarding and seizure since 2022. Authorities cited violations of Japan’s fishery laws, including unauthorized fishing in Japanese-claimed waters. The detained crew faces possible fines and deportation after questioning.
China’s Foreign Ministry immediately protested the action, calling it “illegal and provocative” and demanding the immediate release of the vessel and crew. Japan Beijing asserts that the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands are inherent Chinese territory and that Japanese control constitutes an infringement on China’s sovereign rights.
The incident marks a significant escalation in maritime tensions between Asia’s two largest economies. Japan has reported a sharp increase in Chinese fishing and coast guard vessels entering the waters around the uninhabited islands in recent years, often accompanied by China’s larger maritime law-enforcement ships.
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