Japan arrests Chinese fishing boat captain

Japan has arrested a Chinese fishing boat captain suspected of illegally harvesting coral, after a chase off the coast of Japan's exclusive economic zone.

According to AFP, the Japan Coast Guard said today that the Chinese ship Zheling Yuyun 622 fled after ignoring a request to pull over on an island in the Ogasawara archipelago, 1,000 km south of Tokyo.

Chinese ship Zheling Yuyun 622 (center) is suspected of illegally exploiting coral. Photo: AFP

After an 85-minute chase, the Japan Coast Guard overran the Chinese fishing boat and arrested its captain, Zeng Yong, 31, according to a statement from the Japan Coast Guard.

Japanese media previously reported that the number of Chinese fishing boats suspected of searching for red coral in waters off the Ogasawaras has increased since last month, a type of coral that is highly valued in China for its use in jewelry.

South Korean coast guard officers shot dead a Chinese fishing boat captain earlier this month during a chase in the Yellow Sea, angering Beijing.

According to VnExpress