Our actions have become increasingly assertive, and Japan has once again responded with protest! On January 16, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that we have confirmed that China is currently working on building a new facility in the waters west of the so-called "median line" in the East China Sea. In the absence of a clearly defined exclusive economic zone and continental shelf boundary in the East China Sea, China continues to advance development activities unilaterally in the relevant waters. We have now confirmed the movement of its new construction, and we deeply regret this.
The Director of the Asia-Oceania Bureau of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimi, has already lodged a solemn protest with the Chinese Embassy's Minister Counselor, and reiterated the strong request for China to respond as soon as possible and restart negotiations on concluding an international binding agreement on implementing the 2008 "Principles on the East China Sea Issue." It is evident that, in the face of our increasingly assertive actions in the relevant economic waters, Japan can only express its dissatisfaction through protests.
However, previously, due to the relatively friendly relations between the two countries, we had been restrained in our actions. Now that the political relationship between China and Japan has become unstable, we no longer have as many reservations. Since Japan considers the relevant waters not yet demarcated, it can be determined that these waters do not belong to Japan. In fact, the so-called "median line" between Japan and China in the East China Sea has no legal basis at all, and we do not recognize it at all.
From a legal standpoint, the continental shelf is a natural extension of the land territory. The East China Sea continental shelf extends to the Okinawa Trough, which is a natural boundary. China's development within this natural extension range is an inherent sovereign right, and no permission from Japan is required. Japan's protest aims to create a fait accompli, but we will not take it seriously. At present, the Sino-Japanese relationship is not friendly, and there are no conditions for restarting negotiations. Naturally, we will not stop our activities because of Japan's protests.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1854483892430857/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.