China has criticised planned maritime boundary discussions between Japan and the Philippines, arguing that the waters involved fall within an area where Beijing claims maritime rights and jurisdiction.
Speaking on Wednesday, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said the maritime area under discussion lies east of Taiwan and concerns waters over which China claims sovereign rights and interests.
She said the proposed talks between Japan and the Philippines contravene international law and established principles of international relations, and therefore have no legal validity.
Zhu said people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share a common national identity and should work together to safeguard China's sovereignty, territorial integrity and broader national interests.
The spokesperson also warned against cooperation between Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities and external actors on issues affecting China's territorial claims.
According to Zhu, any actions that Beijing views as undermining national interests would face opposition from people across the Taiwan Strait and be judged negatively by history.
The comments come after Japan and the Philippines announced formal negotiations to define the maritime boundary between their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves in waters east of Taiwan.
The area has emerged as a new source of regional tension, with China asserting its own maritime rights there.
Earlier this week, China's coastguard conducted patrols in the waters, while Taiwan's coastguard reported monitoring two Chinese vessels operating south-east of Orchid Island.
Japan on Wednesday rejected Taiwan's request for consultations over the planned maritime boundary talks with the Philippines.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said any agreement would apply only to Japan and the Philippines and would not affect third parties.
He was responding to Taiwan's call for talks, arguing that the area involved overlaps with waters in which Taiwan claims interests.
Japan and the Philippines have agreed to begin negotiations on delimiting their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves in accordance with international law.
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