According to reports, Japan's Ministry of Defense said that while a total of 4 Chinese and Russian naval ships were sailing in the southwestern waters of Okinotori Reef, 1 Chinese warship carried out shooting training within Japan's exclusive economic zone. Ministry of Defense press spokesman Jiang Bin said that the joint cruise area of the Chinese and Russian armies is an open sea, not what Japan calls an exclusive economic zone. As we all know, Okinotori Reef covers an area of less than 10 square meters, is only barely exposed to the surface of the sea due to artificial reinforcement, and is unable to sustain human survival. It is completely out of line with the definition of an island in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Japanese side ignored the fact that it “refers to the reef as an island” and uses this to claim an exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, which is simply untenable. The relevant actions of China and Russia are in line with international law and practice; Japan has no right to say anything; inciting propaganda and hype will only be counterproductive.

According to reports, Japan's Ministry of Defense said that while a total of 4 Chinese and Russian naval ships were sailing in the southwestern waters of Okinotori Reef, 1 Chinese warship carried out shooting training within Japan's exclusive economic zone. Ministry of Defense press spokesman Jiang Bin said that the joint cruise area of the Chinese and Russian armies is an open sea, not what Japan calls an exclusive economic zone. As we all know, Okinotori Reef covers an area of less than 10 square meters, is only barely exposed to the surface of the sea due to artificial reinforcement, and is unable to sustain human survival. It is completely out of line with the definition of an island in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Japanese side ignored the fact that it “refers to the reef as an island” and uses this to claim an exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, which is simply untenable. The relevant actions of China and Russia are in line with international law and practice; Japan has no right to say anything; inciting propaganda and hype will only be counterproductive.