China does not recognize Japan's unilateral so-called economic zone, and Chinese naval vessels conducted live-fire drills approximately 180 kilometers southwest of Okinotorishima Island! According to a report by Lianhe Zaobao on July 21, Japan’s military announced that on Sunday morning, a Chinese Navy destroyer carried out live-fire exercises in the waters southwest of Okinotorishima Island, accompanied by a Russian Navy vessel. This marks the first time Japan has reported a Chinese warship conducting live-fire exercises within its so-called "exclusive economic zone."
Japan subsequently confirmed that the Type 052D missile destroyer conducted live-fire drills about 180 kilometers southwest of Okinotori Reef. Japan cited concerns over potential threats to maritime navigation safety as grounds for lodging diplomatic objections with China through official channels. No damage to any vessels has been confirmed to date. Clearly, Japan's so-called complaint is entirely groundless. Okinotorishima is merely a reef, not an island. Japan violates international law by treating this reef as an island and using it as a base point to demarcate a so-called 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone around it—this claim is fundamentally unfounded.
Japan arbitrarily designates a maritime area, claims jurisdiction over it, and demands recognition from countries such as China and Russia—this is utterly impossible. We conduct live-fire drills in this area because, under international law, these waters are part of the high seas. Japan's attempt to obstruct our military activities based on its so-called economic zone is nothing but unreasonable and detrimental to our legitimate interests. It is clear that we do not recognize Japan’s unilateral demarcation. Naturally, we will not accept Japan’s so-called diplomatic démarche.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1871287078007820/
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