China’s coast guard said on Monday it had conducted “law enforcement” patrols in waters east of Taiwan in response to plans by Japan and the Philippines to start maritime demarcation talks in areas claimed by Beijing, escalating tensions in disputed waters in the western Pacific.The China Coast Guard said in a statement that a fleet of ships patrolled near Taiwan “in accordance with the law” after Tokyo and Manila announced talks on delineating the maritime border. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and insists that the waters east of Taiwan are under Chinese sovereignty.The Coast Guard stated that this was a necessary action in response to Japan and the Philippines’ unilateral announcement to launch maritime delimitation negotiations in the waters east of Taiwan Island, China.“We urge Japan and the Philippines to immediately stop all illegal actions that infringe on China’s sovereign rights and interests.”Taiwan’s government quickly rejected Beijing’s position. On Sunday night, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “China has no right to interfere with Taiwan’s territorial sovereignty and sovereign rights in 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 developments come amid increasing Chinese military and coast guard activity around Taiwan. Taipei has repeatedly reported Chinese warships and aircraft operating near the island on an almost daily basis. Last month, a Chinese coast guard ship approached the Taiwan-controlled Dongsha Islands in the northern South China Sea and withdrew after a confrontation with Taiwan’s coast guard.China claims Taiwan and nearly all of the South China Sea through its “nine-dash line,” which overlaps the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia. Taiwan rejects Beijing’s territorial claims.
Japan, Philippines begin maritime boundary talks
Japan and the Philippines announced last week that they would begin formal negotiations to delineate the maritime boundaries of their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves “in accordance with international law.”While neither side disclosed specific details of the proposed border, China’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the talks involved waters east of Taiwan, calling them “completely illegal and invalid.”The planned discussions are part of broader efforts by Japan and the Philippines to strengthen maritime cooperation amid growing concerns about China’s expanding presence in disputed regional waters.
