China’s coast guard said Monday it carried out “law enforcement” patrols in waters east of Taiwan in response to plans by Japan and the Philippines to begin maritime demarcation talks in an area Beijing claims as its own, escalating tensions over disputed waters in the western Pacific.The Chinese Coast Guard said in a statement that a fleet conducted patrols “in accordance with the law” near Taiwan after Tokyo and Manila announced negotiations on maritime demarcation. Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and insists that the waters east of the island fall under Chinese sovereignty.“This is a necessary measure taken in response to Japan and the Philippines’ unilateral announcement of the start of negotiations to demarcate maritime boundaries in the waters east of the Chinese island of Taiwan,” the Coast Guard said.“We urge Japan and the Philippines to immediately stop all illegal actions that violate China’s sovereign rights and interests.”The Taiwan government was quick to reject Beijing’s position. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said late Sunday that “China has no right to interfere in Taiwan’s territorial sovereignty and sovereign rights in its relevant maritime areas.”The Taiwan Coast Guard had no immediate comment 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 announced almost daily operations of Chinese warships and aircraft near the island. Last month, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel approached near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands in the northern South China Sea before withdrawing after a standoff with the Taiwanese Coast Guard.China claims Taiwan and almost the entire South China Sea across the “nine-dash line,” which overlaps 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 demarcate the maritime borders of the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf between the two countries “in accordance with international law.”Although neither side revealed precise details about the proposed border, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the talks included waters east of Taiwan and described the negotiations as “completely illegal, null and void.”The scheduled discussions are part of broader efforts by Japan and the Philippines to boost maritime cooperation amid growing concerns about China’s growing presence in disputed territorial waters.
