Not Accepting Russia's Arrest Of Ship, Japan Files Diplomatic Protest

Russian border patrol ship. (Wikimedia Commons/US Coast Guard/Petty Officer 1st Class Allyson ET Conroy)

JAKARTA - The Japanese government called the detention of its ship by the Russian authorities unacceptable. To that end, Japan chose to file a diplomatic protest, Thursday, June 3 local time.

In addition, the Japanese government requested that the ship and its entire crew which were captured on May 28 in the Sea of Okhotsk be released immediately, because they were considered to be still in the Japan Exclusive Economic Zone.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) announced the arrest of a Japanese-flagged fishing vessel, in the Sea of Okhotsk region, after attempting to escape.

The FSB said that during the inspection of the ship, live crabs, frozen crab products, and trading equipment were found on board. According to the report, the ship maneuvered dangerously during the chase, creating a collision hazard to a Russian border control vessel. Subsequently, the ship was detained and taken to the port of Korsakov for investigation.

"According to our information, the ship is operating in Japan's exclusive economic zone. We lodged a protest through diplomatic channels in Moscow, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and Tokyo because the actions of the Russian side are unacceptable. We demand the immediate release of the ship and its crew," the Chief Cabinet Secretary said. Japan's Katsunobu Kato, as launched TASS Thursday, June 3.

However, Kato said the 14 crew members of the Eiho Maru (172) who were detained did not have any health problems. They also get regular food and drink.

Kyodo News, meanwhile, reported that a fishing cooperative based in Wakkanai, where Eiho Maru is based, denied the claims, saying navigational data showed the trawler was operating in Japan's EEZ.

Prior to their detention, the 160-tonne Eiho Maru reported to the Japanese coast guard that the Russians had fired at them with tear gas.

Meanwhile, Russian border authorities said warning shots were fired to stop the ship as it tried to escape from one of the patrol boats.

To note, the incident occurred days after another Japanese fishing boat collided with a Russian vessel and capsized off Hokkaido, leaving three crew members dead.