Vol.22. May 30. 2025
What is happening in East Asian Maritime Security? The Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS) publishes the biweekly newsletter, the information on maritime security relevant to East Asia and Japan's territory. |
Monthly Column
China’s Installment of Buoys
in the East China Sea
from an International Law Perspectives
Masahiro Kurosaki
Professor of International Law,
National Defense Academy of Japan
Editor's Note:
This column was submitted on May 26, two days before the Japan Coast Guard’s announcement of China’s removal of the remaining buoy in Japan’s EEZ near Yonaguni Island.
Accordingly, no China’s buoys are reported to be placed in Japan’s EEZ at the moment.
Japan Coast Guard’s announcement: (*1)
In recent years, Chinese buoys were spotted in a row in Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near the Senkaku Islands (in July 2023 (*2)) and Yonaguni Island (in December 2024(*3)), on the Japan side of the geographical equidistance line between Japan and China in the East China Sea—the presence of similar buoys was also confirmed by the Japanese government in 2016 and 2018 respectively—. The news media (*4) reported that they were believed to be equipped with automatic identification systems (AIS) and a complex array of cameras, sensors, antennas, satellite transponders and other devices possibly for collecting and transmitting data on foreign vessels’ movements, water temperature, ocean currents,weather, etc. The Japanese government have issued a navigational warning to all vessels operating in the area, and strongly and repeatedly urged China to remove them immediately,arguing that the installment of the buoys is a unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the East China Sea. On February 11, 2025, the Chinese government made an announcement that one near the Senkaku Islands was relocated due to the completion of its task on the spot, commenting that its installment was consistent with both domestic and international laws. The Japan Coast Guard confirmed (*5) the removal of the buoy from Japan’s EEZ on the same day, but another buoy in the vicinity of Yonaguni Island is left as it is (*6).
In the meantime, the Japanese government has stated on various occasions that it would implement feasible and effective responses to China’s installment of the buoys in light of the rights and obligations of the countries concerned in the relevant waters, Japanese laws and regulations, and their potential impact on ship traffic and Japan’s fishing activities.
Domestically, however, there remains a strong argument that since the buoy remains located within its EEZ, Japan, as a coastal state, should take a resolute stance by removing the buoy on its own. Yet, is such a forcible removal permissible under international law at all? If so, under what circumstances, will it be legally justified?
To answer these questions, it must be emphasized that the installation of buoys by China within Japan’s EEZ could constitute the violations of the relevant rules of the law of the sea.
First, the installation could violate Article 246(2) of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which provides: “Marine scientific research in the exclusive economic zone and on the continental shelf shall be conducted with the consent of the coastal State.”
Insofar as the installation is, or was, for the purpose of marine scientific research (MSR), its unilateral act without Japan’s consent would not be consistent with the said article.
On the other hand, the EEZ and the continental shelf in the East China Sea, where the installation of the buoys is in question, have not yet been delimited. The official position (*7) of the Japanese government is that “the geographical equidistance line is regarded as an equitable solution in the delimitation of such maritime area.” By contrast, China refuses (*8) final delimitation based on the equidistance line and instead claims the natural prolongation of its continental shelf to the Okinawa Trough. Despite no mention of the boundary delimitation of the EEZ, China may thus refute the Japanese allegation of violation of Article 246(2) of the UNCLOS by claiming that the buoys have been located within China’s EEZ.
However, it must be recalled that the self-restraint obligation (*9) under the law of the sea comes into play in undelimited maritime areas. Article 74(3) of the UNCLOS stipulates that “the States concerned, in a spirit of understanding and cooperation, shall make every effort to enter into provisional arrangements of a practical nature and, during this transitional period, not to jeopardize or hamper the reaching of the final agreement” for the delimitation (underline added). As part of this effort, Japan and China established in 2001 a mutual advance notification framework for marine research activities (*10) as a temporary arrangement, under which China should notify Japan in advance when conducting MSR in Japan’s EEZ in the East China Sea. Nevertheless, the fact that China unilaterally installed its buoys without prior notification arguably disrespects this framework and, more importantly, demonstrates China’s failure to comply with its self-restraint obligation for reaching the final agreement on the boundary delimitation, whether for MSR purposes or not. The breach of this obligation has been further aggravated by the acceleration of its development activities of natural resources in the East China Sea (*11).
Every breach of an international obligation attributable to a state entails the responsibility of that state (Articles 1 and 2 of the Articles of State Responsibility (*12)). The responsible state is under the obligations to cease the act of breach and make full reparation for the injury caused by it (Articles 30 and 31). When the breach continues, the injured state is
entitled to take proportionate countermeasures against the responsible state by resorting to illegal conduct in an effort to induce to comply with those obligations on the specified conditions (Articles 22, 51 and 52). Therefore, even if its forcible removal of the Chinese buoy were to cause any violations of international law, including that of China’s sovereign immunity, Japan could justify its act of removal based on its right to take countermeasures —all the more so because it has repeatedly called upon China to fulfill the relevant international obligations. It goes without saying, but for Japan to avoid breaching its obligation of self-restraint in undelimited maritime areas through disproportionate countermeasures, it is important that its self-help measures be limited to the removal of the buoy, and that Japan should immediately return it and, as the injured state, seek guarantees of non-repetition, while demonstrating its intention to continue making every effort to achieve a peaceful resolution for the maritime delimitation in the East China Sea. This de-escalatory form of countermeasures is consistent with their object and limits, notably “such a way as to permit the resumption of performance of the obligations in question” (Article 49).
It is up to the Japanese government whether to exercise the right to take countermeasures. The reason that Japan has thus far refrained from forcibly removing the buoys is probably because it has not confirmed any serious damages caused to Japan’s EEZ by their installation. However, should such damages become apparent in the future, it will be critical for Japan to take a resolute approach to forcible removal in order to protect its own maritime rights and interests.
(The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the position of the Japanese government or the Ministry of Defense of Japan.)
Notes:
- https://www1.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/TUHO/keiho/cgi/disp_warnings.cgi?TYPE=NAVAREA11&TANA=250243&LANG=JP
- https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/bluebook/2024/html/chapter2_02_02.html
- https://www.mofa.go.jp/press/kaiken/kaikenwe_000001_00134.html
- e.g.:
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/defense-security/20230918-137246/
- https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20250212/k10014719471000.html
- see p.43 :
https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/files/100826205.pdf
- https://www.mofa.go.jp/a_o/c_m1/page3e_000358.html
- https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/gjhdq_665435/2675_665437/2721_663446/2723_663450/202406/t20240607_11408932.html
- https://www.jiia-jic.jp/en/japanreview/pdf/0a52fc25802d39a9ff81438bb9fbcf93f64d753a.pdf
- https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/press/release/13/pdfs/rls_0213d.pdf
- https://www.mofa.go.jp/a_o/c_m1/page3e_000356.html
- https://legal.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/draft_articles/9_6_2001.pdf
|
Statistical Data and Analysis (as of May 30)
On May 21, Japan Coast Guard (JCG) released an official annual report, “Japan Coast Guard Report 2025,” which summarizes the JCG's activities over the past year.
This report describes in detail, including illustrations, how Japan Coast Guard protects Japan's territorial waters and EEZs, including the Senkaku Islands.
In light of the increasing number of international operations conducted by Japan Coast Guard in cooperation with foreign coast guard agencies, the report also covers in detail international cooperation operations in many fields, such as anti-piracy, anti-terrorism, maritime rescue, and environmental protection.
Since the 2010s, Japan Coast Guard has been responding to the increase in smuggling and piracy under economic globalization by creating a framework for international cooperation with the Pacific coast countries and other organizations.
This report mentions Japan Coast Guard's track record of providing expertise and technology to other countries in areas such as search and rescue and diving.
[Statistical Data as of May 30]
Japan Coast Guard (JCG) daily updates the statistical data on the number of China Coast Guard vessels entering in the contiguous zone around the Senkaku Islands and intruding into Japanese territorial waters. The below is from the website of JCG.
(https://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/
mission/senkaku/senkaku.html) |
|
|
May. |
Contiguous zone |
Territorial
Waters |
May. |
Contiguous zone |
Territorial
Waters |
15 |
4 |
|
23 |
4 |
|
16 |
4 |
|
24 |
2 |
|
17 |
4 |
|
25 |
4 |
|
18 |
4 |
|
26 |
2 |
|
19 |
4 |
|
27 |
2 |
|
20 |
4 |
|
28 |
4 |
|
21 |
4 |
|
29 |
4 |
|
22 |
4 |
|
30 |
|
|
|
Date |
Topics |
5/15 |
Japan Joint Staff confirmed
one Chinese Y-9 Patrol
aircraft flying from the East
China Sea
to the Pacific Ocean through
the area between the main
island of Okinawa and
Miyakojima
Island on May 15. This
aircraft then circled, turned
and flew back to the East
China Sea
through the same area.
Japan Air Self-Defense Force
scrambled to it.
|
|
5/16 |
In an effort to increase
interest in the Northern
Territories issue, a special
ship used for
exchange programs with the
four Northern islands will be
open to the public in June at
a port near the site of the
Osaka-Kansai Expo. This was announced by Mr. Ito, Minister of
State for Okinawa and
Northern Territories Affairs, at a press conference following a cabinet
meeting.
According to the
announcement, for two days
from June 28, the special
ship “Etopirika,”
which will be used for
exchange programs with the
four northern islands, will
be berthed
at the Port of Osaka near the
venue of the Osaka-Kansai
Expo, and will be open to the
public.
On board the ship, children
and grandchildren of former
islanders will have the
opportunity to speak as “
storytellers,” and panels
will be displayed to
introduce the history
of the Northern Territories
and exchange programs.
Minister Ito stated, "It is
important to expand the
interest in and understanding
of the
Northern Territories issue
among many citizens,
especially the younger
generation who will
be responsible for the next
era. We hope that as many
people as possible will come.”
Exchange programs with the
four northern islands have
been put on hold due to
Russia's
invasion of Ukraine, and
Japanese government is urging
the Russian side to resume
them
as soon as possible.
NHK News (Japanese)
|
|
5/16 |
Japan Maritime Self-Defense
Forces (JMSDF) confirmed five
Chinese naval vessels,
one Luyang III class
destroyer (hull number 132),
two Jangkai II class frigate (
hull number
529 and 530), one Yushen
class LHD (hull number 33)
and one Yuzhao class LPD (
hull
number 980), sailing south in
the waters 100km northeast of
Miyakojima Island on May 16.
JMSDF then confirmed these
five vessels sailing south in
the waters between the main
island of Okinawa and
Miyakojima Island to the
Pacific Ocean.
|
|
5/17 |
Press Release by Japan
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Vice Minister Funakoshi’s
Travel to the United States (
excerpt)
From May 15th to 16th, Mr.
FUNAKOSHI Takehiro, Vice
Minister for Foreign Affairs
of Japan,
traveling to Washington, D.C.,
the United States, held
meetings with the Honorable
Christopher Thomas Landau,
Deputy Secretary of State of
the United States of America,
and others. The overview is
as follows:
1 On May 16th, Vice Minister
Funakoshi held a meeting with
Deputy Secretary Landau:
(1) They exchanged views
broadly on Japan-U.S.
cooperation in areas
including security
and the economy, and
concurred to continue working
closely together to further
strengthen the Japan-U.S.
Alliance, building upon the
outcomes of the Japan-U.S.
Summit
Meeting in February. They
also concurred to convene a
Security Consultative
Committee
(SCC: “2+2”) meeting at an
early date.
(2) They concurred to conduct
consultations between
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of Japan
and Department of State of
the United States regarding
concrete measures to realize
a free
and open Indo-Pacific.
(3) Furthermore, they
reaffirmed the importance of
further strengthening the
coordination
among like-minded countries
in the region such as Japan-U.
S.-ROK, Japan-U.S-Philippines
and Japan-Australia-India-U.S.
(Quad).
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
|
|
5/20 |
Philippine President Marcos
gave a speech at a ceremony
at a naval base in Subic on
the
Island of Luzon, near the
disputed waters of the South
China Sea with China on May
20.
He stated, “We will never
tolerate any action that does
not respect our sovereignty.”
Although the Marcos campaign
unexpectedly fared poorly in
the midterm elections held
on May 12, he reiterated his
refusal to make concessions
on the issue of the South
China
Sea, where China has been
increasing its intimidation
of the country.
Marcos inspected two newly
built warships that docked at
the base. He called for a
policy
of strengthening military
power while adhering to
principles based on
international law and
cooperating with other
countries.
Sankei Shimbun News (Japanese)
|
|
5/20 |
Philippine authorities have
noted that several Chinese
vessels are “conducting
maritime
survey activities for
military use” within the
Philippine's exclusive
economic zone in the
South China Sea.
A spokesperson for the
Philippine Coast Guard held a
press conference on May 20
and
stated that since the first
of this month, a total of
three Chinese vessels have
been
“confirmed to be conducting
maritime research activities
for military use” in the
waters off
Luzon Island and Palawan
Island.
The Chinese vessels were all
operating in waters inside
the Philippines' exclusive
economic
zone, and were reportedly
carrying deep-sea probes and
underwater drones.
The Philippine Coast Guard
also released a video
capturing the activities of
the Chinese
oceanographic research vessel
on the 6th of this month,
raising alarm that China may
be
mapping the seafloor to
support submarine navigation.
TBS News (Japanese)
|
|
5/21 |
China and the United States
have traded accusations over
their respective actions in
the
South China Sea at a UN
Security Council meeting on
maritime security.
At the gathering in the UN
headquarters in New York on
Tuesday, acting US
representative, Ambassador
Dorothy Shea, spoke about the
dispute between China and
the Philippines over
territorial rights to a part
of the sea.
Shea said: "The United
States stands with the
Philippines. Once again, we
condemn
China's dangerous and
unlawful actions in the South
China Sea."
China's deputy ambassador to
the UN, Geng Shuang, accused
the US of sending military
vessels to the area under the
pretext of the freedom of
navigation, but with the real
intent
"to flex its muscles and stir
up the confrontation."
Geng said the situation in
the South China Sea remains
generally stable, and that
Beijing
is confident it can make the
body of water "a sea of peace,
a sea of friendship and a
sea of
cooperation."
The US and Philippine
militaries staged a series of
joint maritime drills in the
area from
late April through early this
month.
The countries have been
increasing pressure on China
in response to Beijing's
growing
assertiveness in the South
China Sea and around Taiwan.
NHK World (English)
|
|
5/21 |
Philippine National Security
Advisor Año said on May 21
that the “code of conduct”
that
the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) is
working with China to
establish to
avoid clashes in the South
China Sea should be fully in
line with international law,
including
the UN Convention on the Law
of the Sea.
Mr. Año pointed out that "
the rising tensions in the
South China Sea have made it
difficult
to maintain a law-based
maritime order”. He stressed
that it is important to first
engage in
dialogue within ASEAN and
create a common ground in
dealing with the problem.
The Philippines will hold
the ASEAN presidency next
year. Mr. Año emphasized that
continuing to protect
maritime rights and interests
based on international law "
is not a
matter of choosing one of the
opposing powers over the
other”.
Sankei Shimbun News (Japanese)
|
|
5/21 |
Philippine and United States
militaries and coast guards
conducted the 6th Bilateral
Maritime Cooperative Activity
(MCA) in the strategic waters
of Palawan and Occidental
Mindoro on Tuesday.
This was the first time the
US Coast Guard (USCG) and
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
jointly participated in an
MCA, highlighting a growing
whole-of-nation approach to
maritime
cooperation, the Armed Forces
of the Philippines (AFP) said
in a statement Wednesday.
The AFP said the exercises
featured in its activity with
the US Indo-Pacific Command
(USINDOPACOM), PCG, and USCG
were the following:
Communications Check Exercise
(COMMEX);
Search and Rescue Exercise (
SAREX);
Division Tactics and Officer
of the Watch Maneuver (
DIVTACS/OOW);
Photo Exercise (PHOTOEX); and
Finish Exercise (FINEX).
The assets used in the
activity were Philippine Navy’
s BRP Ramon Alcaraz, BRP
Domingo
Deluana, and AW109 naval
helicopter; Philippine Air
Force’s Super Tucano and
Sokol
helicopters; as well as
Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP
Melchora Aquino and BRP
Malapascua.
GMA News Online (English)
|
|
5/23 |
The Philippines says a
Chinese government ship
damaged one of its research
vessels
operating in a contested part
of the South China Sea.
Beijing blames the Philippine
side for
the incident.
The Philippines' Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources calls the actions
of a China
Coast Guard ship "aggressive
interference." The bureau
says two Philippine vessels
were
conducting routine scientific
research near a sandbar in
the Spratly Islands on
Wednesday.
It says the Chinese ship "
water cannoned and sideswiped"
one of the Philippine
vessels
twice. The Philippine side
also says the actions damaged
the vessel's port bow and
smokestack and endangered the
lives of civilian personnel
onboard.
Philippine officials
released a video that they
say shows the Chinese ship
approaching the
Philippine vessel from behind
before colliding and firing a
water cannon.
The Philippines says this "
marks the first time water
cannons have been used
against" the
bureau's research vessels
around the sandbar.
The area lies between the
Philippine-controlled island
of Thitu and Subi Reef where China
built an artificial island.
The waters are claimed by the
Philippines, China and other
parties.
A China Coast Guard
spokesperson says its ship
responded in accordance with
the law
after the two Philippine
vessels illegally landed
personnel on the sandbar.
The official says one of the
Philippine vessels ignored
repeated warnings from the
Chinese
side, got dangerously close
to the Chinese ship and
scraped against it. The
official adds that
the Philippine side is fully
responsible for the incident.
NHK World (English)
|
|
5/23 |
Monthly Statistics on
Scrambles（April）
Japan Joint Staff released
its monthly statistics on
scrambles. In April, Japan
Air Self
Defense Force (JASDF)
conducted 66 scrambles. The
most scrambles are against
Chinese
aircrafts (43 times). The
others were against Russian
aircrafts (22 times) and so
on.
Japan Joint Staff
|
|
5/25 |
JMSDF confirmed five Chinese
naval vessels, one Admiral
Kuznetsov class aircraft
carrier
Liaoning (hull number 16),
two Luyang III class
destroyer (hull number 121
and 122), two
Jangkai II class frigate (
hull number 515 and 599),
sailing in the waters 200 km
north of
Kubajima Island (Okinawa
Prefecture) on May 25. On the
same day, the Liaoning (hull
number 16) was confirmed to
have made landings and
takeoffs by fighter aircrafts
and
helicopters.
Japan Air Self-Defense Force
scrambled to them.
|
|
5/26 |
The US Marine Corps will
carry out a live-fire drill
using the cutting-edge NMESIS
anti-ship
missile system during joint
exercises with the
Philippines for the first
time.
The two countries' Marines
started the annual event in
the Philippines on Monday. A
news
conference was held at
Philippine Marine Corps
headquarters in Manila.
Commandant Arturo Rojas said
there will be a live-fire
drill using NMESIS during a counter
landing exercise, along with
simulations.
The system uses remotely
operated unmanned vehicles to
launch anti-ship missiles
with
a range of over 180
kilometers.
A US official said the
system will enhance the
Philippines' defense and
allow the country to
modernize its military.
The live-fire drill may draw
a sharp reaction by China as
it will be held in the
Philippines'
northern part of Luzon island, near
Taiwan.
The joint exercises will
take place across the
Philippines through June 6,
with more than
4,000 US and Philippine
personnel taking part. They
will also be joined by other
countries
including Japan and South
Korea.
NHK World (English)
|
|
5/27 |
On the evening of the 26th,
a Chinese oceanographic
research vessel was confirmed
operating without Japan’s
prior consent in Japan’s
exclusive economic zone
around
Okinotorishima Island, Japan'
s southernmost island. The
research vessel has since
moved
out of the Japanese exclusive
economic zone, but Japan Coast Guard will
continue to be
on the lookout in the area.
According to the 3rd
Regional Coast Guard
Headquarters, at around 5:40
p.m. on the
26th, a Japan Coast Guard
aircraft on alert spotted the
Chinese oceanographic
research
vessel “Jiageng” navigating
in Japan's exclusive economic
zone, approximately 270 km
east of Okinotorishima Island,
with a wire-like object
extending into the sea.
The JCG aircraft radioed the
research vessel in Japanese
and Chinese, demanding that
it cease its activities,
saying, "Survey activities
without prior consent are not
allowed”.
The research vessel left the
Japan’s exclusive economic
zone about 5 hours later, and
the
Japan Coast Guard will
continue to monitor the area.
According to the 3rd
Regional Coast Guard
Headquarters, this is the
ninth time in the
past 10 years since January 1
last year that a Chinese
oceanographic research vessel
has
conducted activities in the
exclusive economic zone
around Okinotorishima Island
without
prior consent.
NHK News (Japanese)
|
|
5/27 |
Chief Cabinet Secretary
Yoshimasa Hayashi announced
at a press conference on May
27
that he had protested through
diplomatic channels against
the activities of a Chinese
oceanographic research vessel
in Japan's Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ). The protest is
dated May 26. During the
protest, the Japanese side
told the Chinese side that
scientific
research in Japan's EEZ
without Japanese consent is
not acceptable and should be
stopped
immediately.
On the 26th, Japan Coast
Guard confirmed that the
Chinese oceanographic
research
vessel “Jiageng” was
extending a wire-like object
into the sea within Japan's
EEZ, about
270 km east of Okinotorishima.
The Jiageng left the EEZ on
the same day.
Nikkei Shimbun News (Japanese)
|
|
5/27 |
Regarding the confirmed
activities of a Chinese
oceanographic research vessel
in Japan's
exclusive economic zone (EEZ)
east of Okinotorishima Island,
Mao Ning, head of the press
bureau of the Chinese Foreign
Ministry, said at a press
conference on May 27, "Japan
has
no right to interfere. The
Japanese government protested
to China because of the
unauthorized activities of
the research vessel, but this
is a position it will not
accept.
Spokesman Mao reiterated her
previous assertion that Japan's EEZ around Okinotorishima
is not recognized because "it is not an island but a reef", and said that "the survey
ship's
activities are an exercise of
freedom of the high seas”.
She also did not clarify the
content of
the survey.
JIJI Press News (Japanese)
|
|
5/27 |
JMSDF confirmed one Chinese
Renhai class destroyer (hull
number 104) and one
Luyang III class destroyer (
hull number 121) sailing
southeast in the waters 140km
northeast of Miyakojima
Island (Okinawa Prefecture)
on May 26. JMSDF then
confirmed
these vessels sailing
southeast in the waters
between the main island of
Okinawa and
Miyakojima Island to the
Pacific Ocean.
|
|
5/27 |
From May 25 to 26, JMSDF has
confirmed Chinese naval
vessels including the Admiral
Kuznetsov class aircraft
carrier Liaoning (hull number
16) navigating in the East
China Sea
as the below table and chart.
|
During this period, the
Liaoning (hull number 16) was
confirmed to have made
approximately 120 landings
and takeoffs, including
approximately 90 by fighter
aircraft and
30 by helicopters.
On May 27, JMSDF confirmed
the Admiral Kuznetsov class
aircraft carrier Liaoning
(hull number 16) and one
Renhai class destroyer (hull
number 101) sailing southeast
in the
waters between the main
island of Okinawa and
Miyakojima Island to the
Pacific Ocean.
Then, on the same day, the
Liaoning (hull number 16) was
confirmed to have made
landings and takeoffs by
fighter aircrafts and
helicopters in the waters
190km southeast
of Miyakojima Island (Okinawa
Prefecture).
Japan Air Self-Defense Force
scrambled to them.
|
|
5/28 |
Press Release by Japan
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (
excerpt)
Japan-Philippines Foreign
Ministers' Meeting and
Working Lunch
On May 28, from 1:00 p.m.
for approximately 100 minutes,
Foreign Minister Takeshi
Iwaya
held a Japan-Philippines
Foreign Ministers' Meeting
and Working Lunch with
Hon. Enrique A. Manalo,
Secretary for Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of the
Philippines, who
was visiting Japan. The
following is a summary of the
meeting.
1 Opening Remarks
(1) Minister Iwaya stated
that through the Japan-
Philippines Summit Meeting in
April this
year, Japan has been able to
further strengthen its
relations with the
Philippines, a “neighbor”
connected by the sea, and
commended the close bilateral
relations that allow for this
Foreign Ministers' Meeting to
be held shortly after the
Summit Meeting. He also
stated that
our partnership has evolved
into a near-alliance status,
and we would like to work together
to realize a “free and open
Indo-Pacific.”
(2) Foreign Minister Manalo
expressed his pleasure at
meeting again since Minister
Iwaya's
visit to the Philippines in
January. He then stated that
although the international
situation
has been turbulent since then,
he highly appreciates the
further progress in
cooperation
between the two countries
through Prime Minister Ishiba'
s visit to the Philippines in
April.
Looking ahead to the 70th
anniversary of the
normalization of diplomatic
relations between
Japan and the Philippines
next year, he expressed his
desire to use this meeting as
an
opportunity to further
strengthen cooperation as
partners who share common
values and
interests.
2 Bilateral relations
(1) Regarding security, the
two foreign ministers held in-
depth discussions on further
strengthening the foundation
for security and defense
cooperation, based on last
month's
Summit Meeting. The two
foreign ministers commended
the start of negotiation on
the
Japan-Philippines Acquisition
and Cross-Servicing Agreement
(ACSA), as well as the start
of discussions on the
possibility of concluding a
future Agreement on the
Security of
Information following last
month's Summit Meeting. They
also welcomed the steady
progress toward the entry
into force of the Japan-
Philippines Reciprocal Access
Agreement (RAA). Furthermore,
Minister Iwaya expressed his
desire to further promote
cooperation through the
Official Security Assistance (
OSA) for capacity building in
the
Philippines, and Foreign
Secretary Manalo expressed
his gratitude for Japan's
cooperation.
In addition, the two foreign
ministers agreed to hold
Maritime Consultations and
Vice-Ministerial Strategic
Dialogue within this year to
share strategic perceptions
and further
advance cooperation in the
field of security, including
the maritime domain.
3 Regional and International
Situation
(1) The two foreign ministers
discussed a wide range of
issues, including the
situation in the
East China Sea and South
China Sea, Myanmar, the
Middle East, Russia's
invasion of Ukraine,
North Korea, including
nuclear and missile issues
and the abduction issue, the
U.S. tariff
measures and its impact on
the global economy and the
multilateral trading system,
and
cooperation through the Asia
Zero Emission Community (AZEC)
. Foreign Minister Manalo
reiterated his understanding
and support regarding the
abduction issue.
(2) In this context, the two
foreign ministers reaffirmed
the importance of
coordinating
with the United States and
other allied and like-minded
countries in addressing these
challenges and agreed to
continue to deepen Japan-
Philippines and
Japan-Philippines-U.S.
cooperation, with the
continued involvement of the
United States,
toward the realization of a
free and open Indo-Pacific
based on the rule of law.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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5/28 |
Satellite imagery shows
China landed two of its most
advanced bombers in the
disputed
Paracel islands in the South
China Sea this month - a
gesture that some analysts
described
as Beijing's latest
signalling of its growing
military capabilities to
rivals.
The deployment marks the
first time the long-range H-6
bombers have landed on Woody
Island in the Paracels since
2020, and the movement of the
now upgraded aircraft comes
amid tensions with the
Philippines, operations near
Taiwan and ahead of the
region's biggest
defence forum this weekend.
"China's long-range bombers
don't need to be on the
Paracels so it does appear to
be
omni-directional signalling
by Beijing - against the
Philippines and against the U.
S. and other
things that are going on,"
said Collin Koh, a defence
scholar at Singapore's S.
Rajaratnam
School of International
Studies.
French President Emmanuel
Macron is due to open the
three-day Shangri-La Dialogue
forum in Singapore with a speech on
Friday while U.S. Defence
Secretary Pete Hegseth will
outline the Trump
administration's approach to
the region on Saturday.
A British aircraft carrier
is expected in the South
China Sea on a rare
deployment next
month, diplomats say.
Satellites captured two H-6
planes flying over the hotly
disputed
Scarborough Shoal, also in
the South China Sea, just
ahead of Hegseth's visit to
the
Philippines in late March,
when he reaffirmed the United
States' "ironclad commitment"
to
its treaty ally.
Regional diplomats and
analysts say deployments of
the jet-powered H-6 are
closely
scrutinised, given the way
its Cold War-era airframe has
been modernised to carry anti-
ship
and land attack cruise
missiles, while some of the
planes are capable of
launching
nuclear-tipped ballistic
missiles.
A potential threat to U.S.
bases in the region, H-6
bombers were deployed in wargames
around Taiwan in October, and
in July flew close to the U.S.
mainland for the first time.
Neither China's defence
ministry nor the Philippines'
maritime and national
security council
immediately responded to
Reuters' requests for comment.
China's occupation of the
Paracels is disputed by
Vietnam, whose foreign
ministry also did
not immediately respond for
comment.
Echoing the development of
the U.S. B-52, the basic H-6
dates back to 1950s Soviet
designs but it remains China'
s most advanced long-range
bomber having been re-fitted
with
improved engines and modern
flight systems along with its
state-of-the-art weaponry.
Images provided to Reuters
by Maxar Technologies show
two H-6 bombers on a runway
on Woody Island on May 19.
Another Maxar image on the
same date show two Y-20
transport aircraft and an KJ-
500
early warning plane - an
aircraft that is seen as
vital to China being able to
control and secure
increasingly complex air and
sea operations.
Some analysts said the
planes may have first arrived
on May 17 and been present
until
May 23.
Ben Lewis, founder of open
source data platform
PLATracker, said they thought
it was
unlikely that the H-6s would
be deployed long-term on
Woody Island or be permanently
based there.
"The ability to cycle forces
through the bases, especially
higher level assets like the
H-6,
provides the PLA with a force
protection mechanism," he
said, referring to China's
People's
Liberation Army.
China's Southern Theatre
Command, which covers the
South China Sea, maintains
two
regiments of the bombers,
according to the London-based
International Institute of Strategic
Studies.
The bombers are generally
kept at heavily fortified
bases on the Chinese mainland,
where
they would have more
protection in a conflict from
U.S. attacks in conflict
scenarios.
The U.S. maintains jet
fighter wings in Japan,
including on its forward
deployed aircraft
carrier, and on Guam, which
is also home to B-52s.
China claims sovereignty
over nearly all the South
China Sea, including areas
claimed by
Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia,
the Philippines, Taiwan and
Vietnam.
A 2016 ruling by an
international arbitral
tribunal found Beijing's
sweeping claims had no
basis under international law,
a decision China rejects.
Reuters (English)
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5/28 |
A Civil society organization
in the Philippines appealing
to protect its interests in
the South
China Sea from China held a “
Solidarity and Peace Concert
at Sea” on a civilian ship
sent to
the area around the island of
Pag-asa Island (English name
Thitu Island), which is effectively
controlled by the Philippines,
on May 28. The organization
stated that they “completed
their
mission” by performing within
the territorial waters two
nautical miles off the island,
although they were tracked by
vessels of the Chinese Coast
Guard.
According to the
organization, the performance
was held inside the bridge of
the ship
instead of on deck due to
rainfall. Singers from the
Philippines, South Korea,
Indonesia,
and Malaysia performed. A
flag-raising ceremony was
also held. A small fishing fleet
gathered nearby, where they
were welcomed and fuel was
distributed.
Rafaela David of the
organization issued a
statement saying, "We united
across borders
through music and declared to
the world that we must make
the sea a place of peace, not
conflict”.
The civilian ship was
boarded by a total of about
150 people, including
activists,
volunteers, and members of
the press, and had left El
Nido, northern Palawan, in
the early
hours of the 27th.
Sankei Shimbun News (Japanese)
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5/29 |
The Japanese government has
confirmed that China has
removed its last remaining
buoy
from Japan's exclusive
economic zone off Okinawa.
The buoy was detected to the
south of Okinawa Prefecture's
Yonaguni Island last December.
The Japanese government had
demanded its immediate
removal from Japan's EEZ and
has
been monitoring the situation
around the waters.
The Japanese government said
in February that a Chinese
buoy in the waters around
Okinawa Prefecture's Senkaku
Islands had been removed.
China explained that it had
moved
the buoy.
Japan controls the Senkaku
Islands. China and Taiwan
claim them. The Japanese
government maintains the
islands are an inherent part
of Japan's territory, in
terms of history
and international law. It
says there is no issue of
sovereignty to be resolved
over them.
Japan's Chief Cabinet
Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa
told reporters on Thursday
that he
understands that the buoy
south of Yonaguni Island is
no longer an issue.
He said China has not
offered an external
explanation and he will
refrain from answering
questions about its
intentions.
Hayashi said the Japanese
government has been routinely
patrolling the waters under
its
jurisdiction and the relevant
government agencies will
continue to cooperate in
vigilance and
surveillance activities.
NHK World (English)
|
|
5/29 |
China says it conducted
regular maintenance on a buoy
after Japan announced the
removal
of the object installed in
Japan's exclusive economic
zone.
The buoy was detected to the
south of Okinawa Prefecture's
Yonaguni Island last December.
The Japanese government,
which had demanded its
removal from the EEZ, said on
Thursday
that it had been removed
after its request.
Chinese Foreign Ministry's
spokesperson Mao Ning spoke
about the issue at a news
conference on Thursday. She
said the installment of the
buoy for weather observation
off the
east coast of Taiwan in
waters under China's
jurisdiction was consistent
with both domestic
and international laws.
She added that relevant
agencies implemented a
regular checkup on the buoy
due to
operational necessity.
NHK World (English)
|
|
5/29 |
On the 29th, interviews with
government officials and
others revealed that several
South
Korean oceanographic research
vessels are navigating in the
waters surrounding Takeshima
(Shimane Prefecture), which
is illegally occupied by the
Republic of Korea. The
Japanese
government is confirming that
there is a possibility of
illegal oceanographic
research.
According to government
officials and data from
Automatic Identification
System (AIS),
at least two South Korean
oceanographic research
vessels had sailed through
the waters
surrounding Takeshima by the
same day. They were observed
to be circling the island
repeatedly at low speed.
The Japanese side was aware
that the Korean research
vessels had sailed in the
same
waters in the past. In 2022,
the Japan Coast Guard radioed
a warning to the research
vessel, which sailed around
Takeshima, but the South
Koreans responded that they
were
“conducting a legitimate
survey” as well as claiming
territorial rights to
Takeshima. The
South Koreans themselves had
admitted to conducting an
illegal oceanographic survey
to
which the Japanese side had
not consented.
Sankei Shimbun News (Japanese)
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