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China and Japan Hold 13th Round of High-level Consultations on Maritime Affairs

2021-12-20 22:35

On December 20, 2021, the 13th round of China-Japan high-level consultations on maritime affairs was held via video link, co-hosted by Director-General of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Hong Liang and Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Takehiro Funakoshi. Officials from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and China Coast Guard, as well as Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Secretariat, Fishery Agency, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, Japan Coast Guard, Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Defense also attended the meeting.

The two sides held a plenary meeting and three working group meetings on maritime defense, maritime law enforcement and security, and marine economy, and conducted in-depth exchanges of views on maritime issues between the two countries and the promotion of bilateral practical cooperation in the maritime field. Both sides agreed to focus on building China-Japan relations that meet the requirements of the new era, fully implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of two countries in the recent phone conversation and the four-point principled agreement, properly manage and control maritime disputes and differences, persistently promote practical cooperation, enhance exchanges and interactions among maritime personnel, and earnestly safeguard maritime security and stability, so as to make the East China Sea a sea of peace, cooperation and friendship.

China reiterated its stern position on the Diaoyu Islands and other issues, and urged Japan to earnestly respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and refrain from taking actions that complicate the situation. China expressed dissatisfaction over Japan's negative actions affecting maritime and air security in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and lodged representations over Japan's wrong words and deeds concerning the Taiwan Straits issue. China stressed its firm opposition to external forces' intervention in the Taiwan Straits, and requested Japan to be discreet with its words and deeds and avoid affecting regional peace and stability.

The two sides reached the following consensus on specific cooperation:

First, fully acknowledge the positive progress in verifying the direct telephone line connection under the defense sector's maritime and air liaison mechanism, confirm that relevant technical agreements will be signed, and strive to open the line at an early date. The two sides agree to continue defense exchanges.

Second, continue the cooperation between the China Coast Guard and the Japan Coast Guard in combatting maritime crimes and promoting exchanges between law enforcement officers, and support exchanges between the China Coast Guard Academy and the Japan Coast Guard Academy.

Third, continue to carry out joint maritime search and rescue exercises between the China Maritime Search and Rescue Center and the Japan Coast Guard under the framework of the China-Japan Maritime Search and Rescue Agreement, further enhancing local cooperation and jointly safeguarding maritime navigation safety.

Fourth, speak highly of the outcomes of the exchanges on marine environmental protection. Both sides agree to draw on the upcoming third China-Japan Experts Dialogue Platform Meeting on Marine Debris Cooperation and the China-Japan Marine Debris Seminar to promote cooperation on marine plastic waste.

Fifth, continue to cooperate in combatting illegal fishing and conserving fishery resources in the North Pacific. The two sides agree to seek solutions to the problems existing in the fishery field through negotiations and consultations, and fully implement the China-Japan Fisheries Agreement.

Sixth, strengthen personnel exchanges between maritime departments of both sides and enhance mutual trust.

The two sides also exchanged views on strengthening cooperation in marine scientific research as well as technical exchanges in developing the blue economy. China once again expressed its concern over and opposition to Japan's plan to discharge nuclear polluted water into the sea, and urged Japan to prudently handle the issue of the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water.

Both sides agreed in principle to hold the 14th round of China-Japan high-level consultations on maritime affairs in the first half of next year.

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