Chinese surveillance buoy in Japanese waters sows discord between the two countries

Since the beginning of Japan's discharge of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea on August 24, relations have been at an all-time low between Tokyo and Beijing. A Chinese surveillance buoy floating in Japanese waters takes them up a notch. Japan has officially protested to the Chinese authorities and demands the "immediate withdrawal" of this buoy.

The Chinese buoy was spotted near the Tokyo-controlled Senkaku Islands and claimed by China as "Diaoyu". (Illustrative image) AP

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It is a yellow buoy about ten meters wide with a Chinese inscription that triggers the anger of Japan. A coast guard boat spotted the object floating in the waters of Japan's exclusive economic zone on July 11, about 80 kilometers northwest of the Senkaku Islands. Islands uninhabited and controlled by Japan, but claimed by China under the name of "Diaoyu".

Japan calls for "immediate removal of buoy

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We have protested in both Tokyo and Beijing since the Japanese Coast Guard discovered a buoy in July. in Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the East China Sea, an official from Japan's Foreign Ministry told AFP. "We have asked for the immediate removal of the buoy. " the official added on condition of anonymity.

China would use such buoys to measure currents and wave heights in order to send its ships safely into the area, writes Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun. The newspaper also points out that the UN Convention on Maritime Law prohibits such incursions into another country's EEZ. Already in 2016 and 2018, Chinese buoys were found in Japanese waters.

Between Tokyo and Beijing, tensions rise a notch

Since the discharge of the waters of Fukushima, nothing is going well between the two Asian countries: Beijing has since suspended all imports of Japanese seafood, causing food shipments from Japan to China to fall by 41.2% in August, according to data published Wednesday by Tokyo.

Japan also accuses Beijing of anti-Japanese acts, such as this wave of countless untimely phone calls received by its embassy in China, as well as other government organizations, businesses and citizens.

" READ ALSO Discharge of the waters of Fukushima: "It takes a geopolitical turn in China"

(

And with AFP)

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  • China
  • Japan
  • Water
  • Defense
  • Diplomacy