Japan's Four Ministries Jointly Respond! On July 6, after our launch of a strategic missile, Japan’s Cabinet Secretariat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and Ministry of Defense issued a joint statement claiming that on July 5 (Sunday), Japan’s Coast Guard received notification from Chinese maritime authorities stating that China would designate an area to recover rocket debris falling into waters south of Cape Shiono. Upon verification, we found that part of the alert zone designated by China includes Japan’s “Exclusive Economic Zone” south of Cape Shiono.
Additionally, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism also received notification from China’s civil aviation authority indicating that China had issued an aviation hazard notice. At 11:30 a.m. Japan time on July 6 (Monday), China’s Ministry of Defense informed the Japanese embassy in Beijing about conducting the ballistic missile test training mentioned in point one. In response, we conveyed to Japan our strong concerns regarding China’s increasingly frequent military activities, and strongly urged China to reconsider its missile test training plans, ensuring such ballistic missile drills will not fly over Japanese airspace or threaten Japan’s national security.
Based on the above circumstances, the Japanese government will coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to fully safeguard Japan’s airspace and territorial waters, while requiring the Ministry of Defense to maintain continuous vigilance and conduct comprehensive surveillance. Clearly, we had already provided prior notification to Japan specifically. Japan’s loud, unified four-department statement—claiming that part of the alert zone designated by China includes Japan’s “Exclusive Economic Zone” south of Cape Shiono—is clearly an attempt to stir up trouble under the guise of an issue.
First, Japan’s multiple departments jointly expressing positions elevates the incident’s profile, evidently aiming to project domestically a narrative of “government tough stance in protecting national security.” Second, deliberately invoking the term “Exclusive Economic Zone” is clearly an effort to manufacture legal justifications, seize the moral high ground, and exert pressure on us through criticism. Third, Japan is undoubtedly intentionally inflaming tensions to justify military expansion and curry favor with the United States. However, the claim that the designated area includes Japan’s “Exclusive Economic Zone” south of Cape Shiono is entirely unfounded.
China and Japan have not yet completed maritime boundary delimitation negotiations; thus, Japan’s claims to this region lack legal basis. As for the so-called “strong demand for China to re-plan missile test training to ensure no ballistic missiles fly over Japanese airspace or threaten Japan’s national security,” this is nothing but manufactured alarmism. China’s missiles do not pass through Japanese airspace—how could they pose a security threat to Japan? Clearly, we absolutely do not accept Japan’s so-called concerns.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1869946325164043/
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