Taiwan urges Japan, Philippines to respect rights
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- Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said its offices in Japan and the Philippines will push for assurances that any Japan‑Philippines maritime delimitation will not infringe Taiwan’s sovereign rights under international law.
- Japan confirmed it will start formal talks with the Philippines on delimiting their EEZ and continental shelf, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara added that any resulting agreement would not be legally binding on third parties.
- The Philippines announced its readiness to begin the maritime boundary talks with Japan in May, but its foreign ministry did not provide further comment when approached.
- China condemned the Japan‑Philippines negotiations, deployed coast guard vessels off Taiwan’s east coast, and Taiwan rebuked the move as an attempt to undermine regional peace.
- Taiwan reiterated that its sovereignty over its territory and waters is “indisputable” and warned it will not tolerate China’s law‑enforcement actions that threaten stability.
Why it matters: Taiwan secures a diplomatic foothold by demanding assurances that the Japan‑Philippines delimitation will not erode its EEZ, while China’s coast‑guard deployment highlights its attempts to contest the talks, raising tension in the East China Sea.
