(Photo credits: AP)
China’s coast guard said on Monday that it had carried out “law enforcement” patrols in waters east of Taiwan in response to plans by Japan and the Philippines to begin maritime boundary delimitation talks in an area Beijing claims as its own, escalating tensions over disputed waters in the western Pacific.In a statement, the Chinese coast guard said a flotilla conducted the patrols “in accordance with the law” near Taiwan after Tokyo and Manila announced negotiations on demarcating maritime boundaries. Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory and insists the waters east of the island fall under Chinese sovereignty.“This is a necessary action taken in response to Japan and the Philippines unilaterally announcing the initiation of maritime boundary delimitation negotiations in the waters east of China’s Taiwan island,” the coast guard said.“We urge Japan and the Philippines to immediately cease all illegal actions that infringe upon China’s sovereign rights and interests.”Taiwan’s government swiftly rejected Beijing’s position. Late on Sunday, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said, “China has no right to interfere in Taiwan’s territorial sovereignty and sovereign rights over its relevant maritime areas.”Taiwan’s coast guard had no immediate comment on Monday, while the Japanese and Philippine embassies in Beijing did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The latest development comes amid increasing Chinese military and coast guard activity around Taiwan. Taipei has repeatedly reported near-daily operations by Chinese warships and aircraft near the island. Last month, a Chinese coast guard vessel approached close to the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands in the northern South China Sea before withdrawing after a standoff with Taiwan’s coast guard.China claims Taiwan and almost the entire South China Sea through its “nine-dash line”, which overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia. Taiwan rejects Beijing’s territorial claims.
Japan and the Philippines begin maritime boundary talks
Japan and the Philippines announced last week that they would begin formal negotiations to delimit the maritime boundary of the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf between the two countries “in accordance with international law”.Although neither side disclosed precise details of the proposed boundary, China’s foreign ministry said on Friday that the talks involved waters east of Taiwan and described the negotiations as “completely illegal, null and void”.The planned discussions are part of broader efforts by Japan and the Philippines to strengthen maritime cooperation amid growing concerns over China’s expanding presence in disputed regional waters.
