An article published by Yuyuan Tantian, a social media account affiliated with state broadcaster CCTV, said mainland China was “diversifying” its claims to the waters with various activities, ranging from military drills and coastguard patrols to natural resources surveys.
It added that more regular surveys would help with territorial planning, development and protection. It said future operations could cover areas such as exploring for natural resources, aquaculture and building underwater infrastructure such as cables, pipes and tunnels.
It was the latest effort by Beijing to reinforce its territorial claims after Japan and the Philippines announced they were in talks about outlining their exclusive economic zones and continental shelf boundaries east of Taiwan – moves Beijing denounced as “seriously infringing upon China’s maritime rights and interests”.
China said the waters east of Taiwan and its affiliated islands fell within its exclusive economic zone, and that all activities it carried out there were lawful exercises of its sovereign rights, according to Yuyuan Tantian.