The most recent development in the maritime tensions between Japan and China is the release of the Chinese fishing boat captain, Zheng Nianli, who was detained by Japanese authorities for 30 hours. According to the South China Morning Post, the captain was released after China submitted documents guaranteeing payment of bail. The incident began on February 12, 2026, when Japan's Fisheries Agency seized the Chinese vessel, Qiong Dong Yu, in Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the coast of Nagasaki. The agency reported that the vessel failed to comply with an order to stop for inspection and attempted to flee, leading to the arrest of the captain. This was the first seizure of a Chinese fishing boat by Japan since 2022, as noted by The Frontier Post. The incident has further strained the already tense relations between the two nations, which have been exacerbated by Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's comments on potential military intervention if China attempts to take Taiwan by force. The New York Times highlighted that the arrest occurred amid a backdrop of ongoing diplomatic disputes, including territorial issues around the Senkaku Islands and recent military tensions involving radar locks by Chinese jets on Japanese aircraft. The Guardian reported that Japan's firm stance on enforcing its maritime laws is part of a broader strategy to prevent illegal fishing operations by foreign vessels, as emphasized by Japan's chief government spokesman Minoru Kihara. The incident has been widely covered with a negative sentiment across various news outlets, including BBC World and DW, reflecting the potential for this event to escalate diplomatic tensions further.