TOKYO — Japan has strongly criticized China for what it calls “serious misrepresentations” of comments made by Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo regarding a recent maritime incident in the South China Sea. The Japanese government accused China of attempting to distract from its “dangerous actions” in the region.
According to Philippines News Agency, the criticism from China stemmed from Ambassador Endo’s remarks about a confrontation in the Escoda or Sabina Shoal, where the Chinese Coast Guard allegedly rammed a Filipino vessel. The Chinese Embassy in Manila had previously accused Japan of interfering in South China Sea matters, asserting that Endo’s comments were unhelpful for maintaining a rules-based international order and brought up unrelated issues such as the discharge of treated radioactive water from Fukushima, the status of Oki-no-Tori Shima Island, and historical references to the Japanese invasion during World War II.
The Japanese Embassy emphasized that the issue is “directly related” to regional stability and reiterated its commitment to working with the international community to uphold a “free and open” international order based on the rule of law. “The international community, including Japan, has repeatedly expressed serious concerns over repeated actions in recent days that increase regional tensions,” the embassy stated, underscoring the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation and overflight consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The statement also addressed China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea, which Japan argues are not based on UNCLOS. “UNCLOS sets forth the conditions for the application of baselines in a specific and exhaustive manner, whereas China has failed to invoke the relevant provisions of UNCLOS in asserting the lawfulness of the baselines in question,” the embassy noted. It highlighted that the Arbitral Tribunal had ruled against China’s ‘nine-dash line’ claims, which are contrary to UNCLOS, and expressed regret that China continues to disregard this ruling.
The embassy concluded by reminding that under Article 296 of UNCLOS, decisions by tribunals with jurisdiction must be final and complied with by all parties involved in a dispute. This statement underscores the ongoing tension between Japan and China over maritime rights and regional stability in the South China Sea.