The Japanese side discovered on Dec. 27 that a number of marine survey vessels from different Chinese organizations were working closely together to conduct marine surveys around Okinotori Island (Ogasawara Village, Tokyo), the southernmost island in Japan, where Japan is applying for a continental shelf extension. The Japanese side believes that the Chinese side is actively conducting maritime surveys here, and that the Chinese government is taking the lead. The Chinese government has instructed various organizations to investigate the topography and geological data of the seabed around “Okinotori” in order to counter this application and to fight against the recognition of the extension of the continental shelf requested by Japan, which would give it the right to develop the seabed resources.
The Japanese government is not stopping this, but in addition to diplomatic activities, it is stepping up its analysis of the Chinese intentions.
The Chinese side has been arguing that Okinotori Island is a reef, not an island, and that it is called “Okinotori Reef” and cannot have an exclusive economic zone or continental shelf.
According to information from the Japanese Coast Guard, the Chinese marine survey vessel “Dayang” continued its voyage for 10 consecutive days until July 18, 2020, in the exclusive economic zone of “Okinotori Island,” and began its marine survey on July 9, and continued its marine survey after the 9th, except for the 15th, until 5:00 p.m. on the 18th, when it left the waters considered by Japan to be in the “exclusive economic zone,” and threw objects like observation instruments into the sea.
At a press conference on July 11, the then Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga pointed out that Japan had strongly protested to China against the Chinese marine survey vessel’s survey activities in the waters of Okinotori Island, which Japan considers to be its “exclusive economic zone,” without prior permission from Japan.
On July 17, at a regular press conference hosted by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying, a reporter from the Nihon Keizai Shimbun asked about the continued activities of Chinese maritime survey vessels in Japan’s “exclusive economic zone” near Okinotori Island. The Japanese government requires prior consent and has submitted a note to the Chinese side in this regard. Can you tell us the reasons for China’s activities in the above-mentioned waters?
Hua Chunying replied: The reason is very simple. According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Okinotori is a reef, not an island, and cannot have an exclusive economic zone or continental shelf. Japan’s unilateral claim has no legal basis. Chinese research vessels operating in the waters are exercising the freedom of scientific research on the high seas and do not need permission from the Japanese side.
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