Tokyo: The event, which saw the exchange of in-depth views and the agreement to transform the East China Sea into a sea of peace, cooperation, and friendship, underscores the ongoing efforts of both nations to manage their differences and foster a more harmonious relationship.
China and Japan recently marked a significant milestone in their diplomatic relations by holding the 17th round of high-level consultations on maritime affairs in Tokyo.
On Wednesday, Hong Liang, Director-General of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, and Hiroyuki Namazu, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, co-chaired the 17th round of consultations of the High-level Consultation Mechanism on Maritime Affairs between China and Japan. Representatives of the two countries’ maritime affairs departments were present.
Xinhua reported that this round of consultations included a plenary meeting and three working group meetings on maritime defence, maritime law enforcement and security, and the marine economy.
China elaborated on its position on issues related to the East China Sea, Diaoyu Dao, the South China Sea, and the Taiwan Straits, among others, and urged Japan to respect China’s territory, sovereignty, and security concerns and take practical actions to promote the improvement and development of China-Japan relations.
The two sides agreed to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, continue to maintain close communication on maritime affairs, properly manage and control differences, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, and make positive efforts to build the East China Sea into a sea of peace, cooperation and friendship.
The two sides agreed in principle to hold the 18th round of consultations of the High-level Consultation Mechanism on Maritime Affairs between China and Japan in China next year.
For decades, maritime sovereignty over the East China Sea has remained a contestation point between both countries.
Importance of East China Sea
Briefly, the East China Sea geographically separates Japan and China. The Senkaku Islands dispute, or Diaoyu Islands dispute, is a territorial dispute over a group of uninhabited islands known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan, the Diaoyu Islands in China, and the Tiaoyutai Islands in Taiwan.
China and Japan both claim 200 nautical miles EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) rights, but the East China Sea width is only 360 nautical miles.
The dispute in the East China Sea region has been brewing for a long time. China claims the area on a historical basis, while Japan’s claims are based on terra nullius (territory belonging to no one).
Moreover, China’s sweeping claims of sovereignty over the South China Sea—and the sea’s estimated 11 billion barrels of untapped oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas—have also antagonised competing claimants Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Hence, other stakeholders in the fray are keenly watching the interactions between China and Japan.
The East China Sea is a region of immense strategic value because Japan, China, and the US’s geopolitical priorities regarding the Senkaku Islands have significantly increased military presence in the region.
With tensions simmering in the broader Indo-Pacific region, any missteps could have serious repercussions for all parties involved. The Senkaku Island dispute (until issues are resolved) will continue to be a significant friction point.
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