The China Coast Guard carried out “law-enforcement patrols” in waters east of Taiwan on Monday, in retaliation for Japan and the Philippines’ recent plans to begin maritime boundary delimitation negotiations in waters that overlap with areas claimed by China.
In a statement, the coast guard said a flotilla had conducted the patrols as a “necessary” move in response to the announcement of Tokyo and Manila, which “seriously infringed upon China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”
“We urge Japan and the Philippines to immediately cease all illegal acts that undermine China’s sovereign rights and interests,” said Jiang Lue, a spokesman for the coast guard.
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The coast guard “will continue to strengthen control and management” over the waters, Jiang added.
In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Monday that any agreement reached by Japan and the Philippines on maritime boundary delimitation “would not be legally binding on any third party” and therefore there would be “no issue under international law.”
Japan and the Philippines announced last week that they would begin negotiations to define the maritime boundary between their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves “in accordance with international law.”
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With no details yet to be revealed on the area in question, China’s Foreign Ministry said last Friday that the negotiations involve waters east of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory, and that such talks are “completely illegal, null and void.” /dl
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