China Sends Coast Guard Vessels East Amid Japan-Philippines Talks; Taiwan Affairs Office Repeats Old Rhetoric
As Japan and the Philippines initiate negotiations on their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf boundaries, China has responded with strong dissatisfaction, deploying coast guard vessels for "law enforcement patrols" east of Taiwan. Chinese Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian reiterated calls for people on both sides of the strait to "stand on the side of the nation" and "jointly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity."
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- 📰 Published: June 3, 2026 at 13:43
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(CNA reporter Zhang Shuling, Beijing, 3rd) The initiation of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf boundary negotiations between Japan and the Philippines has sparked strong dissatisfaction from Beijing, which has subsequently deployed coast guard vessels for "law enforcement patrols." Chinese Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian today reiterated that people on both sides of the strait should "stand on the side of the nation" and "jointly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity."
Japan and the Philippines indicated at the end of May that they would begin negotiations on their EEZ and continental shelf boundaries. On June 1, China Coast Guard spokesperson Jiang Lue announced that the China Coast Guard vessel Daishan and its formation had initiated law enforcement patrols in waters east of "China's Taiwan Island," stating that this action was in response to the Japan-Philippines move.
During a regular press conference of the Chinese Taiwan Affairs Office today, Zhu Fenglian responded to related questions, stating that the boundary delimitation negotiations between Japan and the Philippines seriously infringe upon China's maritime rights and interests and violate international law and basic norms of international relations.
She claimed that the China Coast Guard's law enforcement patrols in the relevant waters, aimed at "maintaining maritime order and ensuring the safety of life and property of fishermen on both sides of the strait," are normal performance of duties. She called on people on both sides of the strait to stand on the side of the nation, uphold the greater national interest, and jointly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the overall interests of the Chinese nation.
Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-hui stated at a regular press conference on the 2nd that Japan and the Philippines have not yet announced the scope of their delimitation. The Ministry has instructed relevant overseas offices to request details of the "maritime delimitation" mentioned in the statement from the respective host governments. He emphasized that Taiwan's territorial sovereignty and sovereign rights under international law are not subject to question.
Hsiao further pointed out that, considering the high degree of overlap between the waters subject to the Japan-Philippines negotiations and Taiwan's EEZ, Taiwan will request that Japan and the Philippines take this fact into account during the process, not exclude or harm Taiwan's rights and interests, and engage in consultations with Taiwan.
Hsiao said the Ministry also noted that the Chinese government is using this incident to display military force in the waters east of Taiwan, undermining regional peace and stability. Taiwan absolutely will not accept China using this case to assert the fallacy of the "One China Principle" and attempt to internalize the waters east of Taiwan through projecting military force and claiming jurisdiction. (Editor: Chen Kaiyu) 1150603
Japan and the Philippines indicated at the end of May that they would begin negotiations on their EEZ and continental shelf boundaries. On June 1, China Coast Guard spokesperson Jiang Lue announced that the China Coast Guard vessel Daishan and its formation had initiated law enforcement patrols in waters east of "China's Taiwan Island," stating that this action was in response to the Japan-Philippines move.
During a regular press conference of the Chinese Taiwan Affairs Office today, Zhu Fenglian responded to related questions, stating that the boundary delimitation negotiations between Japan and the Philippines seriously infringe upon China's maritime rights and interests and violate international law and basic norms of international relations.
She claimed that the China Coast Guard's law enforcement patrols in the relevant waters, aimed at "maintaining maritime order and ensuring the safety of life and property of fishermen on both sides of the strait," are normal performance of duties. She called on people on both sides of the strait to stand on the side of the nation, uphold the greater national interest, and jointly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the overall interests of the Chinese nation.
Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-hui stated at a regular press conference on the 2nd that Japan and the Philippines have not yet announced the scope of their delimitation. The Ministry has instructed relevant overseas offices to request details of the "maritime delimitation" mentioned in the statement from the respective host governments. He emphasized that Taiwan's territorial sovereignty and sovereign rights under international law are not subject to question.
Hsiao further pointed out that, considering the high degree of overlap between the waters subject to the Japan-Philippines negotiations and Taiwan's EEZ, Taiwan will request that Japan and the Philippines take this fact into account during the process, not exclude or harm Taiwan's rights and interests, and engage in consultations with Taiwan.
Hsiao said the Ministry also noted that the Chinese government is using this incident to display military force in the waters east of Taiwan, undermining regional peace and stability. Taiwan absolutely will not accept China using this case to assert the fallacy of the "One China Principle" and attempt to internalize the waters east of Taiwan through projecting military force and claiming jurisdiction. (Editor: Chen Kaiyu) 1150603