Japan has formally protested China’s new construction project in the East China Sea. This region remains contested due to unresolved maritime boundaries. The new Chinese structure lies west of the geographical equidistance line between both countries. On Tuesday, Japan’s Foreign Ministry issued a strong statement. It called China’s actions “extremely regrettable” and accused Beijing of violating previous agreements. The ministry claimed China continues unilateral development despite no consensus on exclusive economic zones or continental shelf boundaries.
“China should stop this activity and resume talks immediately,” the ministry urged. Officials also pushed for a return to the 2008 joint resource development agreement. As of Tuesday evening, China’s Foreign Ministry had not responded. The East China Sea dispute centers around several uninhabited islands. Japan controls them and calls them the Senkaku Islands. China, however, claims them as the Diaoyu Islands. The territory offers rich fishing areas and possibly vast energy reserves.
The 2008 agreement briefly improved relations between the two nations. At that time, both sides agreed to develop resources together. Yet, talks later broke down, and tensions have increased steadily since. Japan views China’s construction as a serious threat to regional stability. Tokyo says the project erodes trust and breaches prior commitments. Officials fear the move could heighten military risks in the already tense Indo-Pacific.
Analysts believe both countries face domestic pressure to act tough. Japan is approaching key elections, while China faces mounting global scrutiny. These factors make compromise more difficult. Still, long-term peace requires diplomacy. Both sides must recommit to negotiation and avoid further escalation. Experts warn that delays could lead to military incidents. This recent construction has raised fresh alarms in Tokyo. Officials believe Beijing’s actions may disrupt Indo-Pacific security. The situation could also draw in global allies, raising the stakes even higher.
