Voices
in
Japan

quote of the day

Japan, in pursuit of selfish interest, has illegally staked claim to nearly 700,000 square kilometers of jurisdictional waters based on the tiny reef. This undermines the overall interests of the international community.

19 Comments

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian. Japan has long claimed Okinotori, which is approximately halfway between Taiwan and Guam, as its southernmost island. China says it’s merely a reef, and doesn’t entitle Japan to benefits such as a 200 nautical-mile radius exclusive economic zone that would apply to an island under international law.

© Bloomberg

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

19 Comments
Login to comment

Japan's must realize 50-50 is a mature choice.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Strange, reading this quite, I quickly remember the many artificial islands that China has created, to stake claims in strategically important and economically advantageous waterways throughout the region. Some reportedly with military forces stationed thereon.

14 ( +16 / -2 )

Strange, reading this quite, I quickly remember the many artificial islands that China has created, to stake claims in strategically important and economically advantageous waterways throughout the region. Some reportedly with military forces stationed thereon.

This

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Anyone who is actually interested will look up a map of Japan's claimed EEZ and wonder how ANY country can be entitled to monopolize so much of the ocean.

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

Anyone who is actually interested will look up a map of Japan's claimed EEZ and wonder how ANY country can be entitled to monopolize so much of the ocean.

Not really while so much of land surface and the natural resource under the ground on the planet are

being monopolized by limited number of countries.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Yeah - it's certainly rich that China, the Great Artificial Isle Maker is calling out Japan on this.

Quite extraordinary in fact.

But China's hypocrisy doesn't let Japan off the hook.

The "development" of the tiny table top reef that is Okinotori into a claim of an EEZ greater than the total land mass of Japan, is in itself a joke.

Strange why the media never ever touches on this "taboo" topic.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

To be clear, the FM spokesperson, in answer to a question from CCTV over Japan's submittal to the U.N. Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, said:

We have noted relevant reports. As is well known, Okinodori is a reef, not an island. It is submerged underwater except for less than ten square meters above water at high tide. However, Japan, in pursuit of self-interest, has illegally staked claim to nearly 700,000 square kilometers of jurisdictional waters based on the tiny reef. This encroaches upon the high seas and international seabed areas and undermines the overall interests of the international community. According to UNCLOS, Okinodori is a reef, not an island. As such, it is not entitled to an EEZ or continental shelf. Japan’s claim of an EEZ and continental shelf based on it violates international law.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

China says "according to international law", bold as brass, would be funny if it wasn't impacting most of SE Asia.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Does any other country have such a thing as an EEZ?

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

Does any other country have such a thing as an EEZ?

There are seven countries with a larger EEZ than Japan.

https://www.worldatlas.com/amp/articles/countries-with-the-largest-exclusive-economic-zones.html

4 ( +4 / -0 )

This is from the same China that claims the entirety of the South China Sea as its own in flagrant disregard of international norms solely on the basis that it has the word "China" in it?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

China complaining about territorial claims. Boy talk about lack of self awareness. I'm sure the CCP will pull out a newly created map "from old times" tomorrow.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I'm sure the CCP will pull out a newly created map "from old times" tomorrow.

LOL That's right.. It was broadcasted China kept throwing newly-created stone monuments into the sea all over the area around disputed islands. They have confidence in their technology to create "old map" "Ancient documents" 

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Oh really? Well, here’s a map of what China claims to be its territorial waters.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/South_China_Sea_claims_map.jpg

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Japan's must realize 50-50 is a mature choice.

If there is one thing that I have noticed about Japan over the years, that is - Japan is not very good at sharing.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

The US claim the Gulf of Mexico,it sit between Cuba and Mexico

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The US claim the Gulf of Mexico,it sit between Cuba and Mexico

What, exactly, does that have to do with Japan's claims? Ah ... nothing.

https://www.gc.noaa.gov/documents/2011/012711_gcil_maritime_eez_map.pdf

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Japan, in pursuit of selfish interest,

coming from the CHINESE foreign minister, this is rich!

Thanks for the morning laugh

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites