Japan is acting up again, and we have taken action! On July 31, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement claiming that China has carried out actions to construct a new structure on the western side of the "median line between China and Japan" in the East China Sea. It expressed deep regret over China’s continued unilateral development activities in this maritime area—where the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf boundary between China and Japan remains undetermined—particularly the confirmed construction of a new structure.

The Director-General of the Asia and Oceania Department at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lodged a strong protest with Mr. Shi Yong, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Chinese Embassy in Japan, while also urging China once again to restart international negotiations on implementing the "2008 Consensus" regarding resource development in the East China Sea at the earliest opportunity. Clearly, after our actions in the East China Sea economic zone, Japan has reacted with obvious agitation—protesting our conduct and simultaneously calling for negotiations.

However, we certainly will not accept Japan’s protests. The facts are clear: the so-called "China-Japan median line" is merely a boundary unilaterally drawn by Japan, never recognized by China, nor acknowledged as a standard under international law, and thus carries no legal binding force whatsoever. Furthermore, the operation area in question falls within the continental shelf jurisdiction claimed by China, which is inherently part of China’s sovereign maritime territory. There is simply no basis for Japan’s claim of “unilateral extraterritorial development.”

Japan attempts to present its unilateral claims as established rules and then uses them to protest against us—this argument is entirely baseless. Moreover, the "2008 Consensus" does not imply that we have abandoned our position or placed self-imposed restrictions upon ourselves. In areas under our jurisdiction, we naturally have the right to carry out development. Since the deterioration of Sino-Japanese relations, Japan has repeatedly provoked issues involving China’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, making the atmosphere for negotiation nonexistent. Expecting us to return to the negotiating table will not be easy.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872247873731612/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.