The alleged activity took place on Monday near the remote atoll of Okinotori in the Philippine Sea roughly halfway between Taiwan and Guam. China has said it does not constitute an island.
“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.
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, or 370 kilometres, of its coastlines.
However China has said Japan's claim is invalid since Okinotori, some 1,700 kilometres (1,050 miles) south of Tokyo, is just rocks and not an island.
Japan's claim “violates international law”, China’s foreign ministry said Tuesday.
Others including Taiwan and South Korea also dispute Japan's claim. In 2016 Japan briefly seized a Taiwanese fishing boat operating in the area.
Japan has in recent years invested millions of dollars in planting coral around the atoll in attempt to stop erosion by the sea.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Japan says China conducted research near Pacific atoll )
Also on site :