Taiwan has urged Japan and the Philippines to respect its rights and territorial claims as the two countries prepare to hold discussions on their maritime boundary, Taipei’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
Japan–Philippines Maritime Talks
Japan and the Philippines announced last month that they would begin formal negotiations to delineate the maritime boundary of their exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, in line with international law.
China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has condemned the move and this week sent coast guard ships off Taiwan’s east coast in response, drawing an angry reaction from Taipei.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry said its representative offices in Japan and the Philippines would seek confirmation that the negotiation process and outcomes of any future agreements “will not affect the sovereign rights Taiwan enjoys under international law”.
Taiwan’s sovereignty over its territory and relevant waters, as well as its rights under international law, are “indisputable”, the ministry said.
Overlapping Zones
Given that the maritime area where Japan and the Philippines intend to negotiate boundaries overlaps with Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone off its eastern coast, the ministry said it calls on both countries to fully consider Taiwan’s rights and interests and engage in talks.
Asked about Taiwan’s concerns, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said earlier on Wednesday that if Japan and the Philippines agree on the maritime boundaries it “would not be legally binding on third parties”.
The Philippines’ foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry added that China had no right to claim to speak on its behalf over the maritime boundary issue. “Taiwan will not tolerate China’s attempts to undermine regional peace and stability through so-called coast guard law enforcement and military power projection,” the ministry said.
Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
(With inputs from Reuters)
