China expressed strong opposition on Friday to a decision by Japan and the Philippines to begin negotiations on the maritime boundary, calling the talks “illegal” and claiming exclusive control over the waters in question.
The two island nations announced Thursday they would begin formal talks “to delimit the maritime boundary” of an economic zone and continental shelf between them, as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on a visit to Tokyo.
But Beijing again asserted on Friday that it has an “exclusive economic zone and continental shelf” in waters east of Taiwan.
“China is very unhappy and firmly opposes this,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular news conference when asked about border demarcation talks between Tokyo and Manila.
“China solemnly declares that the so-called border delimitation negotiations between Japan and the Philippines are completely illegal and invalid,” Mao said.
Beijing has “made solemn representations” to both countries, she added.
See also: China warns US, Japan and Philippines not to ‘play with fire’ over joint exercises
Manila and Tokyo’s joint grievances over Chinese maritime territorial claims have drawn them closer and closer in recent years.
Japan and China are in territorial and economic disputes in the East China Sea, where coast guard ships from both sides regularly stage dangerous clashes.
Meanwhile, Beijing has deployed navy and coast guard ships to the South China Sea in an effort to bar the Philippines from strategically important reefs and islands, leading to a series of confrontations.
