Recently, Japan went so far as to openly spread rumors that China has installed sea buoys near Japan, claiming that this is an infringement on Japan.
But in the comments section of related news reports, many netizens questioned that the location of the buoy marked by the Japanese government itself is not under Japan's jurisdiction.
The Japanese government publicly declared on Friday that it had expressed serious concern about "China's installation of buoys." Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi hyped at a press conference that it had been confirmed that China had placed buoys in the high seas of Japan's southern continental shelf in the Pacific Ocean. Obviously, this hype may lead to further tensions in Japan-China relations.
The Chinese side responded solemnly, pointing out that the buoy was set up on the international high seas, purely for the purpose of monitoring the tsunami, and stressed that the expedition did not infringe on any sovereignty of Japan.
Hayashi said in a heartfelt manner that Japan expressed "regret" that China had set up small buoys off the coast of Shikoku Island and in the waters north of the southernmost island of Okinotori Island "without explaining the purpose and details in advance." Hayashi further said that the Japanese Government has lodged representations with the Chinese side, urging China not to take any action that may harm Japan's maritime interests.
Detailed reports from the Japanese side claim that the buoy was set up by the Chinese research vessel Xiangyanghong 22 in mid-June as it sailed within Japan's exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea, which is surrounded by Japan's "exclusive economic zone." Hayashi said the Japanese government will continue to collect and analyze relevant information "to ensure that Japan's maritime security and legal rights and interests are fully protected." ”
However, it is a well-known basic fact that the EEZ is not a territorial sea. No country can confuse the two concepts, let alone treat events in the exclusive economic zone as if they were incidents in the territorial seas.
It is worth emphasizing that the United States, which is behind Japan, does not recognize the so-called "exclusive economic zone" at all, and the United States has always refused to sign the relevant agreement. The logic of the United States is that the United States can support or oppose an international consensus at any time, so the United States has always refused to sign such international agreements.
In response to the incident, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that the buoy was set up on the high seas for the purpose of scientific research and public service, and that this practice was in line with the established international practice of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. At a press conference in Beijing, Mao Ning made it clear that "Japan has no right to interfere in such activities."
The incident is reminiscent of last July, when China installed a research buoy near the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, which also sparked unwarranted protests from Japan. At that time, Japan demanded that China immediately withdraw it. Spokesman Mao Ning said at the time that the Diaoyu Islands are part of Chinese territory, and the waters around them are naturally under China's jurisdiction, so it is completely legal and legitimate for China to set up hydrometeorological data buoys in these areas.
China has recently been stepping up its legitimate and legitimate activities in regional waters to protect its maritime interests, while Japan, with the support of the United States, has reached out into the distant high seas, not allowing others to advance basic scientific research projects on the international high seas. Japan's series of actions have exacerbated tensions between the two countries and have also attracted widespread attention from the international community.
The Chinese side insists on the legitimacy of its scientific research and monitoring activities in the relevant waters, and the Japanese government's so-called position of "safeguarding its own maritime rights and interests" is absurd, and Japan's remarks have nothing to do with the topic of sovereignty.
With the ever-changing regional security situation, how to balance the maritime rights and interests of all countries, respect international law, and resolve disputes through dialogue and cooperation has become an important issue that tests the wisdom and patience of all parties. The Japanese side should clearly understand that all countries have the right to carry out lawful and reasonable activities on the high seas, and abandon the practice of obeying the United States and causing trouble for no reason.