Japan and Philippines Sign Maritime Boundary Agreement in Overlapping EEZs East of Taiwan; China Sends Coast Guard Vessels

Japan and the Philippines announced the start of formal negotiations last week to delimit their overlapping exclusive economic zone and continental shelf boundary in waters east of Taiwan, stating that the talks would proceed in accordance with international law.

China's Coast Guard conducted law enforcement patrols in the same waters on Monday.

" The statement did not specify the exact location of the patrol. "This is a necessary action taken in response to Japan and the Philippines unilaterally announcing the initiation of maritime boundary delimitation negotiations in the waters east of China's Taiwan island," the Coast Guard said.

The Japanese and Philippine embassies in Beijing did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Taiwan's government has rejected Beijing's claims over the island and the surrounding waters. China claims almost the entire South China Sea via a nine-dash line on its maps that cuts into the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Taiwan reports that Chinese warships and warplanes operate around the island almost daily, sometimes joined by Chinese Coast Guard ships. Last month a Chinese coast guard ship approached the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands before leaving after a stand-off with Taiwan's coast guard.