The Chinese edition of French international broadcaster Radio France Internationale (RFI) published a commentary article on the 27th titled 'The Deep Background of China and Russia's Fleet Conducting Live-Fire Exercises Around Okinotorishima.'

In the early hours of the 19th, Chinese and Russian warships conducted live-fire exercises within Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around Japan's Okinotorishima. The Japanese government lodged a protest with the Chinese side and expressed its concerns, stating that it could threaten the safety of navigation for vessels. On the other hand, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian (Lin Jian) rebutted at a regular press conference on the 21st, saying, 'The so-called 'concerns' expressed by the Japanese side have no basis whatsoever, and China firmly rejects them.'

The article analyzed that the conflict between Japan and China over the South China Sea is deeply involved in the background of this incident. 'Japan and 14 other countries, at the 10-year mark since the South China Sea arbitration ruling, released a joint statement reaffirming the position that China's claims to maritime rights and interests have no legal basis. China strongly reacted to this. For China, this statement was not merely a reference to the South China Sea issue, but it appeared that Japan was at the center of a movement to deny China's expansion of its maritime rights and interests.'

Furthermore, 'China brought up the Okinotorishima issue as a retaliatory measure. The Chinese side has consistently argued that Okinotorishima is not an 'island' under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, but merely a 'rock' that cannot sustain human habitation or economic life. If it is recognized as a rock, Japan's claimed 200-nautical-mile EEZ and continental shelf rights would not be recognized. On the other hand, Japan regards Okinotorishima as a natural island and has carried out embankment work and other projects for many years. For Japan, it is not just a small island, but an important base that leads to securing rights and interests in a vast maritime area,' the article explained.

The article stated that 'This recent China-Russia exercise symbolized the conflict between the claims of both Japan and China,' and commented, 'From China's perspective, if Japan and others support the South China Sea arbitration ruling and thereby deny China's claims to maritime rights and interests based on artificial island construction, then Japan's own EEZ claims based on Okinotorishima should also be questioned by the same logic. In other words, it is a retaliatory stance of 'applying to Japan the same logic that the other side has put forth against China'.'

In addition, it stated that 'The China-Russia live-fire exercise is not merely a diplomatic protest, but also a statement of intent accompanied by military pressure,' and showed the view that China also aims to send a strong message to the world that 'it is Japan that is expanding its maritime rights and interests through reclamation.' (Translation/Editing by Kitada)