Today's (July 4) report by Lianhe Zaobao states: "In response to Japan and the Philippines' announcement in late May to initiate boundary delimitation talks in waters east of Taiwan, China has escalated its legal campaign this week, warning that the Japan-Philippines negotiations conducted without prior consultation with Beijing constitute an international wrongful act. According to interviewed scholars, China's dispatch of naval coast guard vessels to continuously exert pressure on Japan and the Philippines in June, followed by additional legal warnings, aims to employ every possible political and diplomatic means to block the talks, hoping that the two countries will reconsider and retreat."
The report from Lianhe Zaobao highlights China's emphasis that 'lack of consultation' constitutes an 'international wrongful act,' which falls under procedural challenges in international law. China's core demand is not merely opposition to the delimitation itself, but rather the rejection of the premise that 'Japan and the Philippines have unilateral authority to conduct delimitation in relevant maritime areas.' The goal is to undermine the legal legitimacy of the talks at its foundation and prevent the establishment of any de facto situation or precedent involving third-party involvement.
The behavior described as "continuous pressure by naval coast guard forces" is intended to counterbalance Japan and the Philippines' geographical advantages in the negotiation process. Through routine patrols in contested waters, China demonstrates actual control capabilities, aiming to make the other side realize that even if a delimitation agreement is signed, its implementation would face immense obstacles.
The report cites scholarly analysis pointing to a central strategy—raising the political, legal, and military costs across three dimensions to compel the opposing parties to reassess their risk-reward calculus. This represents a typical non-war containment approach, designed to bring the issue back into bilateral negotiation frameworks and prevent further internationalization or escalation of the dispute.
The attempt by Japan and the Philippines to create a 'fait accompli' through bilateral talks is entirely untenable under international law. China's escalation of its legal campaign and regularized enforcement actions aim to utilize all legitimate means to prevent such talks and safeguard its territorial sovereignty and integrity. Any attempt to treat China’s sovereignty as a diplomatic bargaining chip will inevitably face resolute countermeasures and bear corresponding consequences.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1869769725795392/
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