Japan yesterday accused China of illegally conducting undersea surveys in its territory 22 times last year, including nine surveys near two Pacific Ocean islets at the center of a dispute between the two countries over resources.
Meanwhile, a delegation from a Japanese nongovernment group yesterday steamed toward the Okinotorishima islets to study the possibility of building a lighthouse it hopes would strengthen Japan's foothold there.
In a statement, Japan's Foreign Ministry said China had illegally conducted undersea surveys inside Japan's special economic zone 22 times last year, nine of them around the Okinotorishima outcroppings located 1,730km southeast of Tokyo.
The number of claimed incursions is nearly a threefold increase from eight in 2003.
"It is extremely regrettable to see the violations repeated," the statement said. "We strongly hope the Chinese government to instruct research vessels properly and prevent the problems."
Japan claims the Okinotorishima outcroppings, which are heavily fortified by cement embankments, are islands and therefore extend its exclusive economic zone far into the Pacific.
China does not dispute Japan's territorial claim to Okinotorishima, but argues that they're only rocks -- meaning Beijing is free to exploit the natural resources in some of the waters claimed by Japan.
Under international law, an island, which by definition is a naturally-formed land mass that stays above water during high tide -- can be used to determine the limits of a country's economic zone.
A 40-member team commissioned by the private Nippon Foundation was headed for Okinotorishima to do onsite research on Monday and Tuesday, foundation spokesman Hideo Fukuda said by telephone from their boat.
"The purpose of the trip is to seek ways to make better use of marine resources in the area, and it's not a political action targeting China," Fukuda said.
The team plans to survey coral, take sea water samples and assess the possibility of building a lighthouse and a power generation plant, he said.
The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) is to tighten rules for candidates running for public office, requiring them to declare that they do not hold a Chinese household registration or passport, and that they possess no other foreign citizenship. The requirement was set out in a draft amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法 ) released by the ministry on Thursday. Under the proposal, candidates would need to make the declaration when submitting their registration forms, which would be published in the official election bulletin. The move follows the removal of several elected officials who were
The Republic of China (ROC) is celebrating its 114th Double Ten National Day today, featuring military parades and a variety of performances and speeches in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei. The Taiwan Taiko Association opened the celebrations with a 100-drummer performance, including young percussionists. As per tradition, an air force Mirage 2000 fighter jet flew over the Presidential Office as a part of the performance. The Honor Guards of the ROC and its marching band also heralded in a military parade. Students from Taichung's Shin Min High School then followed with a colorful performance using floral imagery to represent Taiwan's alternate name
COVETED PRIZE: The US president would be a peace prize laureate should he persuade Xi Jinping to abandon military aggression against Taiwan, William Lai said US President Donald Trump should get the Nobel Peace Prize should he be able to convince Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) to abandon the use of force against Taiwan, President William Lai (賴清德) told a conservative US radio show and podcast in an interview. The US is Taiwan’s most important international backer, despite the absence of formal ties, but since Trump took office earlier this year he has not announced any new arms sales to the nation. Trump could meet Xi at the APEC summit in South Korea on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Lai, speaking on The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton
A Chinese takeover of Taiwan would severely threaten the national security of the US, Japan, the Philippines and other nations, while global economic losses could reach US$10 trillion, National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Lin Fei-fan (林飛帆) wrote in an article published yesterday in Foreign Affairs. “The future of Taiwan is not merely a regional concern; it is a test of whether the international order can withstand the pressure of authoritarian expansionism,” Lin wrote in the article titled “Taiwan’s Plan for Peace Through Strength — How Investments in Resilience Can Deter Beijing.” Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) intent to take Taiwan by force
RSS