China welcomes decision on Japan's claim
Source: Xinhua |
May 17, 2012, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA has welcomed a decision by a United Nations commission not to adopt Japanese claims over the geopolitical classification of Okinotori Atoll, a rocky outcrop in the Philippine Sea.
"Japan's claim of its outer continental shelf based on Okinotori Atoll was not acknowledged by the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said yesterday in response to a question at a regular press conference, quoting information released by the UN agency.
"Japan's allegation that Okinotori Atoll has been adopted by the commission as an 'island' is absolutely baseless," he said.
Japanese media, quoting government officials, reported on April 28 that the UN commission agreed with Japan that the sea basin north of Okinotori Atoll was part of its continental shelf, and thus said Okinotori was recognized as an "island" and could be used as a territorial "base point."
However, Hong said: "As mentioned by the Japanese side, the commission recognized the Shikoku Basin Region north of Okinotori Atoll as part of Japan's outer continental shelf. But in fact the recognition was based on other parts of Japan's land territory, not related to Okinotori Atoll."
Hong said Japan's request submitted to the commission involved some 740,000 square kilometers but it had recognized only 310,000 of them.
"The areas claimed by Japan as part of its outer continental shelf, but not accepted by the commission, include the 250,000 square kilometer southern Kyushu-Palau ridge based on Okinotori Atoll," Hong said.
Okinotori Atoll, some 1,700 kilometers south of Tokyo, is only about 10 square meters above sea level at high tide.
According to Article 121 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, rocks that cannot sustain human habitation or an economic life of their own shall have no exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or continental shelf status.
An EEZ is an area of sea over which a state has exclusive rights of exploration.
China and South Korea have opposed Japan's attempt to claim areas based on Okinotori Atoll as part of its continental shelf, as Okinotori is a group of rocks and not classifiable as an "island."
"Many countries have also expressed their objection against Japan's illegal claims relating to Okinotori Atoll," Hong said. The commission's decision was "fair and reasonable" and in line with international law, he said.
"Japan's claim of its outer continental shelf based on Okinotori Atoll was not acknowledged by the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said yesterday in response to a question at a regular press conference, quoting information released by the UN agency.
"Japan's allegation that Okinotori Atoll has been adopted by the commission as an 'island' is absolutely baseless," he said.
Japanese media, quoting government officials, reported on April 28 that the UN commission agreed with Japan that the sea basin north of Okinotori Atoll was part of its continental shelf, and thus said Okinotori was recognized as an "island" and could be used as a territorial "base point."
However, Hong said: "As mentioned by the Japanese side, the commission recognized the Shikoku Basin Region north of Okinotori Atoll as part of Japan's outer continental shelf. But in fact the recognition was based on other parts of Japan's land territory, not related to Okinotori Atoll."
Hong said Japan's request submitted to the commission involved some 740,000 square kilometers but it had recognized only 310,000 of them.
"The areas claimed by Japan as part of its outer continental shelf, but not accepted by the commission, include the 250,000 square kilometer southern Kyushu-Palau ridge based on Okinotori Atoll," Hong said.
Okinotori Atoll, some 1,700 kilometers south of Tokyo, is only about 10 square meters above sea level at high tide.
According to Article 121 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, rocks that cannot sustain human habitation or an economic life of their own shall have no exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or continental shelf status.
An EEZ is an area of sea over which a state has exclusive rights of exploration.
China and South Korea have opposed Japan's attempt to claim areas based on Okinotori Atoll as part of its continental shelf, as Okinotori is a group of rocks and not classifiable as an "island."
"Many countries have also expressed their objection against Japan's illegal claims relating to Okinotori Atoll," Hong said. The commission's decision was "fair and reasonable" and in line with international law, he said.
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