Beijing expert rejects Manila claim that Japan sea boundary deal excludes China

A Chinese expert has sharply disputed the Philippine foreign minister's insistence that a maritime boundary delimitation agreement between Manila and Tokyo bears no relevance to Beijing, warning that the deal serves purposes that reach well beyond a straightforward bilateral arrangement.

The expert argued that framing the agreement as purely a two-party matter is misleading, contending that its implications for the broader regional maritime order cannot be separated from China's interests in the contested waters.

The pushback signals growing concern in Beijing that Manila and Tokyo are advancing territorial and jurisdictional arrangements in the South China Sea and surrounding waters that could entrench positions China considers illegitimate.