The recent release of the Chinese fishing boat captain by Japan, after a 30-hour detention, marks the latest development in a maritime incident that has significantly strained relations between Tokyo and Beijing. According to the New York Times, the captain was detained after allegedly fleeing from a Japanese Fisheries Agency inspection within Japan's exclusive economic zone, 89.4 nautical miles south-southwest of Meshima Island in the Goto archipelago. The incident, which occurred on February 12, 2026, was the first of its kind since 2022, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the two nations. Japan's chief government spokesman, Minoru Kihara, emphasized the country's commitment to 'firm action and enforcement activities' to prevent illegal fishing operations by foreign vessels, as reported by The Frontier Post.