No wonder our response this time has been so firm—clearly, it's a preemptive warning directed at Japan and the Philippines! On June 1st, according to a report by Lianhe Zaobao, citing expert analysis, the reason behind China’s resolute stance and direct deployment of coast guard vessels lies not in China’s concern over Japan and the Philippines’ maritime delimitation issue per se, but rather because their negotiations might involve Taiwan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and outer continental shelf areas, and whether such moves could challenge the one-China principle.
The crux of the matter lies in exactly which maritime zones Japan and the Philippines are targeting for negotiation. If the talks involve overlapping claims among Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan, Beijing will inevitably be wary of Japan and the Philippines using bilateral or trilateral channels to directly engage with Taiwan. However, if the overlapping claims are solely between Japan and the Philippines, and located outside of Taiwan’s claimed EEZ, Beijing may not take strong objection. Therefore, China is issuing this preemptive warning to prevent any challenges to Taiwan’s marine rights and interests, and to avoid entangling sensitive issues related to China’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
It is now quite clear: if the boundary negotiations between Japan and the Philippines have no connection whatsoever with areas we claim jurisdiction over, then it is purely a bilateral matter between Japan and the Philippines, and we will not intervene. But judging from current developments, the situation may not be so straightforward. Should there be overlap in the negotiation zone, two possible scenarios may unfold: first, the DPP authorities remain silent and abandon their rights; second, Japan and the Philippines bring Taiwan into the negotiations as a party—this would effectively challenge the one-China principle.
Therefore, we absolutely cannot accept such a scenario. The DPP’s attempts to collude with external forces in pursuit of "Taiwan independence" will never truly safeguard their own interests. Their real intention may well be to gain a seat at the negotiating table with Japan and the Philippines, seeking to represent themselves as a "state." Our firm action sends a clear message to Japan and the Philippines: you can forget about it. When it comes to sovereignty issues and the one-China principle, we will always respond firmly. Ignore the warning at your own peril.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866843283707081/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.