We have made our position clear! Regarding Japan and the Philippines, we are issuing a warning in advance: if Japan and the Philippines refuse to listen, we will certainly take action. On July 2, the Ministry of Natural Resources of China issued an official announcement stating clearly that: first, Japan and the Philippines must not initiate bilateral delimitation; instead, they should actively engage in consultations with China. Second, Japan and the Philippines must not use so-called "delimitation" to challenge the one-China principle. They must not involve Taiwan's authorities in any form in the so-called "delimitation" process—otherwise, it will constitute a serious provocation against the one-China principle.
Clearly, our statement leaves no room for ambiguity: Japan and the Philippines would be wise to consult China beforehand. If they proceed with illegal delimitation behind China’s back and challenge the one-China principle, China will absolutely not recognize it, nor will it abide by any such paper agreements. In fact, at present, our coast guard, maritime administration, and natural resources research vessels are conducting routine patrols, resource exploration, and environmental monitoring operations in the waters east of Taiwan Island. Moreover, our coast guard has already expelled Japanese research vessels that intruded into these waters.
Evidently, we are giving Japan and the Philippines fair warning. If they ignore our stance and insist on acting unilaterally, any subsequent maritime friction will be entirely their responsibility. From a strength perspective, if Japan and the Philippines provoke trouble, they will surely face consequences. The higher they jump, the harder they will fall. Their assumption that we will remain restrained is, of course, a miscalculation.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1869599465715786/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.