Japan intercepts Chinese fishing boat, detains crew

(Vatican Radio) Tensions remained high on Saturday between Japan and China, after the former detained the crew of a Chinese fishing boat. Japan's coast guard intercepted a Chinese fishing boat it believed was illegally fishing coral near a Japanese island, arresting its captain. This happened in the South China Sea, near but outside the area where China claims a group of islands held by Japan.

Meanwhile, Japan's prime minister on Saturday said he would defend those Senkaku Islands after months of incursions by Chinese government patrol ships and aircraft, which have to instances of both sides scrambling fighter jets.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Japan is facing an "increasingly severe security environment," with what he called "provocation to its territorial rights." He said he would defend Japanese territory, seas and airspace at any cost.

China maintains the islands are rightfully Chinese territory. But Beijing's new leader, Xi Jinping, has said he wants to improve relations and Prime Minister Abe himself has said he's open to a summit to rebuild ties, leading some analysts to predict that both sides may be willing to find a way to shelve the question of the islands' sovereignty for now.

Listen to the full report by regional correspondent Alastair Wanklyn: