The territorial dispute between China and Japan over the East China Sea has intensified as Beijing has refused to comply with Tokyo's demands to remove a yellow buoy placed within Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near the Senkaku Islands. The Senkaku Islands, also claimed by China, have been at the center of this ongoing impasse that began when the Japan Coast Guard discovered the buoy in July, sparking protests and demands for its immediate removal.
The presence of the buoy, located about 500 meters from the median line in the Japanese side of the EEZ, has raised concerns over China's intentions to solidify its jurisdiction claim over the contested waters. Despite Japan's assertions that China's installation of the buoy without consent violates the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Beijing has argued that the area falls within its own EEZ. The disagreement has highlighted the complexities of maritime law when it comes to delineating EEZ boundaries and regulating activities within these zones, especially in overlapping zones like the East China Sea.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's unsuccessful call for Chinese President Xi Jinping to remove the buoy during a meeting in San Francisco underscores the diplomatic challenges both countries face in resolving the deadlock. The Kishida administration has faced criticism for its perceived lack of effective countermeasures, with the ruling and opposition parties urging a stronger stance against China's actions. However, the Japanese government remains cautious about unilaterally removing the buoy, citing the absence of clear rules or precedents under international law governing such situations.