China Summons Japanese Diplomat to Protest Criticism Over South China Sea

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has summoned a senior diplomat from the Japanese Embassy in Beijing to lodge a strong protest after Japan, along with the United States and the Philippines, criticized China's territorial claims in the South China Sea.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that on July 12, the official in charge of Asian affairs urgently summoned the Minister of the Japanese Embassy in China to express strong dissatisfaction and protest.

The Foreign Ministry described the meeting with the Japanese diplomat as a yuejian (an arranged meeting).

This is a diplomatic term used by China when summoning a foreign diplomat to convey a protest. While it is considered a lower level of intensity than zhaojian (a formal summons), it is equivalent to the diplomatic act of summoning a representative.

China criticized Japan, stating, "Japan bears historical guilt regarding the South China Sea issue and has not properly addressed it, so it has no right to make irresponsible remarks on this matter."

The ministry further claimed, "Japan's malicious words and actions challenge the post-war international order and the rule of international law. By applying double standards to incite trouble and undermine peace and stability in the South China Sea, Japan is acting against the common interests and will of regional countries."

It also emphasized, "This is causing the international community, including China, to once again become vigilant about Japan's history of aggression and colonial rule, and is sparking strong anger. China will respond firmly and strongly to Japan's provocations and will resolutely safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests."

China added that during the diplomatic engagement that day, it also lodged protests regarding the Taiwan issue, the issue of chemical weapons abandoned by the Japanese military in China, remarks made by Japanese lawmakers concerning China's ethnic policies, and recent trends in Japan's military and security policies.

Earlier that same day, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed its existing position that China's broad maritime claims in the South China Sea lack legal basis, through a statement issued in the name of Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to mark the 10th anniversary of the South China Sea arbitration ruling.

Japan also joined 14 other countries—including the United States, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Slovenia—in issuing a joint statement refuting China's territorial claims.

On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, Netherlands, ruled under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that China's so-called nine-dash line claim, which asserts historical rights in the South China Sea outside of its territorial waters, has no legal basis.

This ruling followed an arbitration case filed by the Philippines in 2013. Since then, China has refused to recognize the verdict and has maintained its claims over most of the South China Sea.

China has continued to deploy naval, coast guard, and maritime militia vessels into the waters, leading to ongoing tensions with neighboring countries such as the Philippines.

(Photo: Google Maps capture, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.