Japan accuses China of unauthorised research in its waters
The alleged activity took place on Monday near the remote atoll of Okinotorishima in the Philippine Sea roughly halfway between
Taiwan and
Guam . Beijing has said the atoll does not constitute an island.
Japan's coastguard on Monday spotted a Chinese maritime survey vessel 'extending what appeared to be a wire into the waters in Japan's exclusive economic zone' 270km (167 miles) east of Okinotori island, government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters.
'As the maritime scientific research by the vessel has not obtained Japan's agreement, the coastguard demanded that the activity stops and we lodged a protest with the Chinese side through a diplomatic channel,' Hayashi said.
The Chinese vessel left Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) at around 10.45pm on Monday, Hayashi said.
Under international law, a coastal state has rights to the management of natural resources and other economic activities within its EEZ, which is within 200 nautical miles (370km) of its coastlines.
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