Overview
- Japan and the Philippines said they will begin formal negotiations to delimit the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf that their seabed claims could overlap.
- China lodged a formal protest and said on Friday that the area lies east of Taiwan where it claims EEZ and continental‑shelf rights, calling the talks illegal and void.
- Chinese officials and experts cited UNCLOS principles that bilateral deals must not prejudice third‑party rights and pointed to disputes over features such as Okinotori.
- The joint statement also commits to deeper coast guard cooperation and to promote military equipment transfers after Japan lifted its ban on lethal arms exports in April.
- The announcement has raised diplomatic tensions and could reshape regional security ties by further aligning Tokyo and Manila on maritime enforcement and defence cooperation.