At first glance, Japan and the Philippines’ decision to begin negotiations on a maritime boundary appears to be a routine exercise in international law. But China’s unusually forceful response signals that the talks are about far more than drawing a line at sea.
Beijing argues the talks infringe on maritime rights it claims through Taiwan and sees discussions as part of a broader effort by two key U.S. allies to deepen strategic coordination in waters central to China’s security interests.
When Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. used a late-May summit in Tokyo to launch the bilateral delimitation talks, China reacted swiftly.
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