China asserts dominance in the sea again

The 11th Prefectural Coast Guard Headquarters announced on the morning of the 11th that the Chinese maritime survey vessel "Haike 001" was operating in the exclusive economic zone about 236 kilometres from Taisho Island in the Senkaku Islands.

The Japanese side said that the survey vessel removed a pipe-like device from the side of the vessel and lowered it into the sea for inspection. The Japanese cruiser requested China to stop its survey activities by radio. The survey vessel then left the area without responding.

It is understood that Article 13 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea contains a special chapter on marine scientific surveys, which stipulates that marine scientific surveys in the territorial waters of other countries must obtain the consent of the coastal state.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry responded to a question on this matter today and stated that the Senkaku Islands have always belonged to China, and the activities of survey vessels in this area are entirely within China's sovereignty.

China continues to claim sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands and continues its provocative and hegemonic actions in the region.