May 29 — China’s foreign ministry said Japan and the Philippines have announced
formal talks to delimit exclusive economic zones and continental shelves in
waters east of Taiwan. China said it holds EEZ and continental-shelf rights in
that area under domestic law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and
that Japan and the Philippines’ unilateral initiation of talks seriously
infringes China’s maritime rights and breaches international law. Beijing said
it has lodged stern representations with both governments, called the talks
entirely illegal and void, and warned they will not affect China’s rights or its
exercise of lawful interests in the area. China urged Japan and the Philippines
to stop actions that infringe its maritime rights to preserve regional peace and
stability.
