China calls Japan - Philippines sea border talks illegal

MANILA, Philippines — China has expressed strong opposition to a decision by Japan and the Philippines to start maritime border negotiations, calling the talks “illegal” and claiming exclusive control over the waters concerned.

The two island nations announced on Thursday they would start formal talks “to delimit the maritime boundary” of an economic zone and continental shelf between them, as President Marcos met Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae on a visit to Tokyo.

But Beijing again asserted on Friday that it has an “exclusive economic zone and continental shelf” in the waters to the east of Taiwan.

“China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to this,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular news conference when asked about the delimitation talks between Tokyo and Manila.

“China solemnly declares that the so-called delimitation negotiations between Japan and the Philippines are entirely illegal and invalid,” Mao said.

Beijing has “lodged solemn representations” with both countries, she added.

Manila and Tokyo’s shared grievances over Chinese maritime territorial claims have seen them draw increasingly close in recent years.

Japan and China are in territorial and economic disputes in the East China Sea, where coastguard ships from both sides routinely stage dangerous standoffs.

Beijing has meanwhile deployed navy and coast guard vessels in the South China Sea, in a bid to bar the Philippines from strategically important reefs and islands, leading to a string of confrontations.

Maritime partnership

The United States and the Philippines reaffirmed their “strong and enduring maritime partnership” in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

US embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Bridgette Walker met with Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan. 

The meeting of Gavan and Walker came amid continued tensions in the disputed waters in the West Philippine Sea.

The two officials discussed ongoing efforts to strengthen maritime patrols, enhance and expand diplomatic engagements amid efforts of the government to protect the Philippines’ sovereign rights.

The country prepares to mark in July the 10th anniversary of the landmark 2016 arbitral ruling on its maritime claim.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. has said the 2016 arbitral ruling remained central to the Philippines’ broader effort to uphold the rules-based international order.