Japan arrests Chinese fishing boat captain for suspected irregularities
4 Feb 2013 7:09 AM IST
The captain of a Chinese coral fishing boat was arrested on suspicion of illegally operating in Japan's exclusive economic zone waters near Miyako Island, the Japan Coast Guard said.
The boat's 63-year-old captain, Xue Changlong, who claims to be Chinese, has admitted to operating in EEZ waters about 46 kilometres east-northeast of the island in Okinawa Prefecture without permission, according to coast guard officials.
The captain of the boat, about 100 tons in size, was with 12 others who also claim to be Chinese, the officials said, adding that corals were found on the vessel.
It is the first time since September 2010 that a captain of a Chinese vessel has been arrested for suspected illegal fishing in waters overseen by the 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters in Naha, the capital of the prefecture, according to the officials. The 2010 arrest took place after a Chinese fishing boat smashed into Japan Coast Guard vessels in waters around the Senkaku Islands, which significantly worsened ties between Asia's two biggest economies.
The uninhabited islands in the East China Sea, controlled by Japan for decades, are claimed by China and Taiwan. Japan-China relations remain tense over the islands, most recently following the purchase of a significant part of the Senkakus in Okinawa by the Japanese government.
The boat's 63-year-old captain, Xue Changlong, who claims to be Chinese, has admitted to operating in EEZ waters about 46 kilometres east-northeast of the island in Okinawa Prefecture without permission, according to coast guard officials.
The captain of the boat, about 100 tons in size, was with 12 others who also claim to be Chinese, the officials said, adding that corals were found on the vessel.
It is the first time since September 2010 that a captain of a Chinese vessel has been arrested for suspected illegal fishing in waters overseen by the 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters in Naha, the capital of the prefecture, according to the officials. The 2010 arrest took place after a Chinese fishing boat smashed into Japan Coast Guard vessels in waters around the Senkaku Islands, which significantly worsened ties between Asia's two biggest economies.
The uninhabited islands in the East China Sea, controlled by Japan for decades, are claimed by China and Taiwan. Japan-China relations remain tense over the islands, most recently following the purchase of a significant part of the Senkakus in Okinawa by the Japanese government.
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