Japan, Philippines Hold Maritime Boundary Talks; China Coast Guard Patrols Waters East of Taiwan

China's Coast Guard carried out law enforcement patrols in waters east of Taiwan on Monday. Officials said the action responded to Japan and the Philippines announcing formal talks last week on delimiting their exclusive economic zone and continental shelf boundary.

Japan and the Philippines stated the talks would proceed in accordance with international law. China's foreign ministry said on Friday that the area covers waters east of Taiwan, which Beijing views as its own territory, and called the talks completely illegal, null and void.

Guard said a flotilla conducted the patrol east of Taiwan in accordance with the law. 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.

Officials stated China has no right to interfere in Taiwan's territorial sovereignty and sovereign rights over its relevant maritime areas. 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. China claims Taiwan and 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's government rejects Beijing's claim. The Philippine and Japanese embassies in Beijing did not immediately respond to requests for comment.