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By Ryan Chan
China News Reporter
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Japan—a key United States ally—has accused China of constructing a maritime structure in the East China Sea, where the two countries have yet to delimit their exclusive economic zones.
China responded that the country's oil and gas development activities in the East China Sea are in "undisputed waters" under its jurisdiction and fall entirely within its sovereign rights.
Why It Matters
As part of America's containment strategy, Japan forms part of the First Island Chain—a defensive line of islands that also includes Taiwan and the Philippines—intended to restrict China's military activity in nearby waters, including the East China Sea, in the event of war.
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While Japan and China have yet to formally agree on the boundaries of their 230-mile-wide exclusive economic zones in the East China Sea, Tokyo has accused Beijing of accelerating development activities by installing 21 structures to exploit the region's natural resources.
According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, coastal states have sovereign rights to explore and exploit natural resources within their exclusive economic zones. The East China Sea is believed to contain significant reserves of oil and natural gas.
What To Know
Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday that China has begun installing an unidentified maritime structure on the western side of the geographical equidistance line—also known as the median line—between the two countries in the East China Sea.
According to a map provided by the ministry, all known Chinese maritime structures in the East China Sea are located at 19 sites, with two of the sites containing two structures each.
"It is extremely regrettable that China is advancing unilateral development in the East China Sea," Tokyo said, adding that it had lodged a strong protest with Beijing.
The Japanese ministry called upon the Chinese government to resume negotiations toward the implementation of the so-called "June 2008 Agreement," under which both sides consented to cooperate in the joint development of natural resources in the East China Sea.
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The recent development follows reports of the deployment of a Japanese MQ-9B SeaGuardian drone in the region, where Beijing claims the Tokyo-administered Senkaku Islands as part of its territory, known as the Diaoyu Islands.
South Korea, another U.S. ally in Northeast Asia, has discovered three structures installed by China in the Yellow Sea, where the two nations' exclusive economic zones overlap. Beijing claims the structures are aquaculture facilities.
What People Are Saying
Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Monday: "The Government of Japan once again strongly requests China to cease its unilateral development and to resume negotiations as soon as possible on the implementation of the 'June 2008 Agreement' in which Japan and China agreed to cooperate on the development of natural resources in the East China Sea."
Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, said at a press conference on Tuesday: "China adheres to and is committed to fully and effectively implementing the consensus on principles on the East China Sea issue, and hopes that Japan and China will meet halfway and play a constructive role in resuming negotiations between the two governments at an early date."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether Japan will strengthen its maritime presence in the East China Sea to counter China's growing activities by deploying additional naval and coast guard units.
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