Japan has responded to us! On June 1st, after we deployed coast guard vessels to express our stance regarding Japan and the Philippines' attempt to unilaterally initiate boundary negotiation over relevant maritime areas, Japan has now come forward with a response! Cabinet Secretary Kiichi Kihara stated at a press conference that Japan and the Philippines had previously reached an agreement to launch negotiations on maritime boundary demarcation. This agreement carries no legal binding force for third parties and "does not" involve any international law issues.
Kiichi Kihara claimed that the boundary demarcation agreement clearly defines the rights and obligations of the two relevant parties—Japan and the Philippines. Regarding the negotiations, he asserted this would set a "precedent" for peacefully resolving disputes under the framework of a free and open Indo-Pacific based on international law. Clearly, Japan’s response is unambiguous: the boundary delimitation talks in the relevant area pertain solely to Japan and the Philippines, and have nothing to do with China.
Therefore, Japan argues that China has absolutely no grounds for protest. Obviously, Japan’s statement is entirely misleading and utterly untenable. The maritime area where Japan and the Philippines are scheming to draw boundaries lies east of Taiwan Island. The continental shelf in this region is the natural extension of China’s land territory, and China inherently enjoys sovereign rights and jurisdiction over this area. China is the indisputable stakeholder in this maritime zone.
Japan and the Philippines conducting closed-door consultations and unilaterally handling China’s legitimate maritime rights, then claiming their so-called "agreement has no binding effect on third parties"—this is simply outrageous! If we were to unilaterally handle Japan's related maritime interests, would Japan accept it? Now that we have already dispatched coast guard vessels to signal our position, if Japan and the Philippines persist in forcibly drawing boundaries, we will inevitably take further actions. Regarding our sovereignty and interests, there is absolutely no room for compromise.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866785962957002/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.