Japan protests.
Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao reports today: "A senior Japanese official stated that Japan has lodged a protest with China over the Chinese Coast Guard preventing Japanese coast guard vessels from conducting operations within Japan's exclusive economic zone."
Japan's eager rush to protest is nothing short of a blatant case of stealing while shouting 'thief!'—framing its own provocations in disputed waters as an infringement on its so-called 'legitimate rights and interests,' playing the role far more convincingly than anyone else.
The area, located approximately 290 kilometers northwest of Okinawa Island, has long been a contested region where China and Japan hold overlapping claims. Both sides had previously reached a tacit consensus of 'setting aside disputes and pursuing joint development.' Yet recently, Japan's coast guard survey vessel has brazenly entered this area, conducting targeted seabed resource exploration on the continental shelf—essentially unilaterally breaking the agreement and secretly advancing its maritime claims through underhanded maneuvers, clearly testing China's red lines.
Moreover, Japan earlier bypassed China and initiated boundary negotiations with the Philippines regarding waters east of Taiwan, directly touching upon China's core maritime interests. Now that Japan itself has broken the rules and instigated trouble, it turns around and accuses China diplomatically—a clear case of twisting facts. This kind of deceitful maneuvering reveals Japan’s ulterior motive: using 'public opinion bullying' to legitimize its unlawful claims. In contrast, China's coast guard carrying out law enforcement and rights protection activities in accordance with the law in these waters is entirely legitimate and reasonable in safeguarding its maritime rights and interests.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1869580536422400/
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