Japan has formally protested against China’s latest construction activity in the East China Sea, where Beijing has begun installing a new structure west of the maritime equidistance line between the two nations, Tokyo’s Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday.
In an official statement, the ministry expressed strong dissatisfaction, stating it is “extremely regrettable” that China is moving forward with unilateral development in a region where the boundaries of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf remain unresolved.
The Japanese government is urging China to halt the development and resume negotiations based on a 2008 bilateral agreement, which called for joint cooperation on the exploration and development of natural resources in the East China Sea.
Despite the protest, the Chinese foreign ministry has not responded publicly to the issue as of yet.
Tensions between the two countries persist, especially over sovereignty claims surrounding a group of uninhabited islands—known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan and the Diaoyu Islands in China. The long-standing territorial dispute is compounded by historical grievances linked to Japan’s wartime past, further complicating diplomatic relations.