Japan's survey vessel was ordered to cease operations by China Coast Guard, and Japan surprisingly lodged a protest.
Japan actually lodged a protest.
According to Kyodo News, on the 1st, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Toshimitsu Motegi expressed dissatisfaction during a press briefing regarding "China Coast Guard's demand for Japan's survey vessel to stop operations," stating that China's move was "unacceptable" and that Japan has already filed a formal protest.
According to the latest report from Kyodo News, on the 2nd, Japan's Maritime Security Agency revealed that Japanese survey vessels were again instructed to halt operations in what Japan calls its "exclusive economic zone" within waters near Okinawa.
Japanese media consider this situation highly unusual, as such incidents involving Chinese demands for Japanese survey vessels to cease operations have only occurred previously in 2010 and 2012.
However, Japan’s complaints and protests are entirely unfounded. If we follow Japan’s so-called "exclusive economic zone" delineated centered on the Ryukyu Islands, our Diaoyu Islands would also fall within that area. Therefore, the waters where Japan’s maritime agency vessels were operating—near Okinawa—are most likely located close to the Diaoyu Islands. This is certainly not the "normal operation" Japan claims, but rather a naked violation of China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
China Coast Guard’s actions, based on international law and domestic regulations, issuing warnings and demanding cessation of operations for foreign vessels illegally entering China’s jurisdictional waters, are fully reasonable, legal, and beyond reproach. Instead of reflecting on their own overstepping behavior, Japan has publicly protested and adopted the posture of a victim—this act of blaming others first and twisting facts is not only baseless but also utterly laughable.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1869577243916288/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.