The Japanese government on Monday lodged a strong protest with China over its efforts to build a new structure in the East China Sea, as tensions between the two Asian nations continue amid ongoing military drills.
In recent years, China has accelerated its development activities of natural resources in the East China Sea, and the government of Japan has confirmed that there are 23 structures in total on the Chinese side of the geographical equidistance line between Japan and China.
Japan identified Chinese activity to install a new structure on the western side of the Japan-China median line in the East China Sea, according to a statement released Monday by its Foreign Ministry.
Under these circumstances, Japan says it is highly regrettable that China is continuing unilateral development, even on its side of the line.
Notably, the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the continental shelf in the East China Sea have not yet been delimited. Japan maintains that maritime boundaries should be determined based on the geographical equidistance line between the two countries.
In a separate statement, Japan said, “We have recently confirmed that China has initiated the installation of a new structure on the west side of the geographical equidistance line between Japan and China in the East China Sea.”
Japan added that it is “extremely regrettable that China is advancing unilateral development in the East China Sea,” while the Exclusive Economic Zone and the continental shelf in the region “have not yet been delimited.”
Kanai Masaaki, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, summoned Shi Yong, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, and issued a strong protest against Chinese unilateral action and urged China to resume negotiations on implementing the “June 2008 Agreement,” under which both countries agreed to cooperate on the development of natural resources in the East China Sea.
Kanai reiterated the protest and once again called on China to resume negotiations on joint development and the implementation of the 2008 agreement, according to the statement.
The Japanese government said that China should cease unilateral development and resume negotiations as soon as possible on the implementation of the June 2008 Agreement.
Relations between Japan and China have been tense in recent months. In November, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan could constitute legal grounds for Japan to deploy troops. China has since responded with economic measures, including trade restrictions and travel warnings, and has accused Japan of reviving militarism.
China said on Friday that the presence of a Japanese Self-Defense Forces vessel in the Taiwan Strait was provocative, and it has deployed a group of warships for drills in the western Pacific Ocean. This comes as Japan joins large-scale military exercises in the Philippines for the first time, alongside US forces.
