Japanese authorities have seized a Chinese fishing boat that they say tried to escape an order to stop for inspection.

The move by Japan is expected to escalate tensions with China.

The country's Fisheries Management Agency said the vessel was seized on Thursday in Japan's exclusive economic zone near southwestern Nagasaki prefecture.

The ship's captain was also detained. According to the agency, there were 11 people on board, including the 47-year-old Chinese captain.

Authorities and Japanese media have identified the seized vessel as a high-capacity "Tiger Net" fishing boat.

The agency said in a statement: "The captain of the vessel had ordered the fishing inspectors to stop for inspection, but the vessel failed to comply with the order and escaped."

This is the first time the agency has detained a Chinese fishing vessel since the European Union in 2022. China has not yet responded to the incident.

Japan's move comes at a time when its relations with China are strained.