July 30 — China's Defense Ministry said at a routine briefing that Sino-Russian joint patrols occurred on the high seas, not within any Japanese exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Spokesman Senior Colonel Jiang Bin said Okinotorishima reef measures under 10 sq m, is only exposed after artificial reinforcement and cannot sustain human habitation, so it does not meet UNCLOS's definition of an island. Beijing called Japan's use of the designation to assert EEZ and continental-shelf rights untenable, sa

July 30 — China's Defense Ministry said at a routine briefing that Sino-Russian joint patrols occurred on the high seas, not within any Japanese exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Spokesman Senior Colonel Jiang Bin said Okinotorishima reef measures under 10 sq m, is only exposed after artificial reinforcement and cannot sustain human habitation, so it does not meet UNCLOS's definition of an island. Beijing called Japan's use of the designation to assert EEZ and continental-shelf rights untenable, said the China-Russia actions complied with international law and practice, and said Japan had no basis to object.