Japan criticizes China for setting up buoys in Pacific

TOKYO, July 8, 2024 (The Japan Times) — The Japanese government has criticized China for installing buoys on the high seas of the Japanese continental shelf in the Pacific Ocean without adequate explanation.

“It is regrettable that buoys were placed without providing a specific purpose,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told a news conference on Friday, referring to an object placed by a Chinese marine research vessel in waters north of Okinotorishima, Japan’s southernmost island.

He added that Japan will continue to collect and analyze information.

Chinese buoys have been spotted near the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, which are controlled by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing. It is rare for Chinese buoys to be set up on Japan’s Pacific side.

Lin said Japan expressed concerns and suspicion about China’s maritime activities and demanded that Beijing immediately explain the purpose of the buoys.

In response, China said the buoy was only used for tsunami observation and had no intention of infringing on Japan’s continental shelf sovereignty.

The buoy was installed in the Shikoku Basin area, which is believed to be rich in seabed mineral resources including minor metals.

While Japan has the right to develop under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, any country can survey the waters above it, and the United States has also placed buoys in the area.

“Our trust relationship with the United States is transparent and is different from our trust relationship with China,” said a senior Foreign Ministry official.

Lin said Tokyo has been closely monitoring the Chinese marine survey ship since it sailed into Japan’s exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea.

Tokyo has called on Beijing not to infringe on Japan’s maritime rights and interests and asked it to consider ensuring freedom of navigation.

Japan’s government confirmed in July last year that China had placed buoys in its exclusive economic zone around the Diaoyu Islands. China has yet to respond to Japan’s demands, including a request made at a summit, that the buoys be removed immediately.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning rejected Japan’s criticism of the buoys at a news conference on Friday, saying Japan had no right to interfere in the matter.

Mao also said that the buoys are for scientific research and public welfare purposes, and their installation is an internationally recognized act because the high seas are open to all countries… PACNEWS

related