Japan and the Philippines have started formal negotiations to delimit their exclusive economic zones. The move overlaps with areas east of Taiwan and has drawn sharp criticism from China.
Japan and the Philippines announced last week that they would begin formal talks to set the maritime boundary of their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves. The area overlaps with waters east of Taiwan. Analysts say Beijing views the negotiations as a challenge to its position on Taiwan. Ding Duo, director of the Centre for International and Regional Studies at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, stated that the launch would be seen in Beijing as an attempt to challenge its stance. China condemned the talks as illegal and void. Beijing said the area falls within its own exclusive economic zone east of Taiwan. In response, Chinese coastguard vessels carried out law enforcement patrols in waters east of Taiwan on Monday, described by a spokesman as a necessary action.