China terms Japan-Philippines delimitation talks illegal and invalid

China conducted law enforcement and maritime traffic patrols in waters east of its Taiwan island in early June, moves that are believed to demonstrate the country's jurisdiction, capability and resolve to safeguard its rights in the area following the Japan-Philippines unilateral delimitation move.

The Ministry of Transport organized a special maritime traffic law enforcement operation on Saturday in waters east of Taiwan island, fully exercising China's maritime administrative law enforcement jurisdiction, according to the ministry.

The operation was carried out by maritime safety administrations in Fujian and Guangdong provinces, as well as navigation support and rescue authorities in the East China Sea. It aimed to strengthen long-range offshore patrol and law enforcement capabilities, improve traffic management in key waters, ensure maritime traffic safety and safeguard national interests, the ministry said.

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On June 1, China Coast Guard spokesman Jiang Lue said a CCG vessel fleet conducted law enforcement patrols in accordance with the law in waters east of Taiwan island.

Both the CCG and the Ministry of Transport stressed that the operations were "necessary actions" in response to Japan and the Philippines' unilateral announcement of launching maritime delimitation talks regarding waters east of China's Taiwan island, which they said seriously infringed upon China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Jiang urged the two countries to immediately stop all illegal actions that undermine China's sovereignty and rights, noting that the CCG will continue to strengthen control and management over relevant waters and resolutely safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests through "concrete actions".

Zhang Junshe, a former researcher at the Naval Research Academy, said the operations were not only the most direct response to the so-called delimitation talks by Japan and the Philippines, but also demonstrated China's jurisdiction over relevant waters east of Taiwan island.

The operations came after Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular news conference on May 29 that the so-called delimitation talks between Japan and the Philippines are "completely illegal and invalid" and will have no impact on China's rights claims in waters east of Taiwan island or China's exercise of its lawful rights.

On May 28, following a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and visiting Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Tokyo and Manila announced the launch of formal negotiations on the delimitation of their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves. According to the joint statement, the proposed delimitation areas include overlapping waters east of Taiwan.

Mao said that under China's domestic law and international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, China has an exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the area.

She added that Japan and the Philippines' unilateral launch of so-called maritime delimitation talks seriously infringes upon China's maritime rights and interests, and violates international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as the basic norms governing international relations, expressing strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the move.

Zhang said the latest operations showed that China's maritime law enforcement forces have not only the determination, but also the capability and strength to safeguard the country's rights.

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He said the waters east of Taiwan island are complex and pose a major test for vessel performance and law enforcement capabilities.

Those operations proved that China's coast guard and maritime safety forces are already capable of conducting regular law enforcement patrols, control and management in waters east of Taiwan island, he said.

More importantly, Zhang said, they show that China has effectively established a relatively complete system for protecting sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, as well as governing waters around Taiwan island.

Contact the writers at jiangchenglong@chinadaily.com.cn