TOKYO (AFP) - A Chinese coral fishing boat captain was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of fishing in Japan's exclusive economic zone, the coastguard said.

The captain allegedly tried to flee, despite an order to stop, the coastguard added.

The Chinese captain and 11 other fishermen were about 42km off Miyako island, southern Okinawa, the coast guard said, well inside Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Arrests like this are not uncommon and usually cause little extra friction between Beijing and Tokyo, who are at loggerheads over the sovereignty of a disputed chain of islands.

Japan says Chinese boats looking for coral or fish often venture into its EEZ. They are usually chased out by the coast guard, but occasionally arrests are made.