China says Japan-Philippines maritime boundary talks 'totally illegal and invalid'

The planned maritime boundary talks between Japan and the Philippines are "totally illegal and invalid," a Chinese spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks at a regular press briefing in response to a question about a recent joint statement issued by the leaders of Japan and the Philippines. The statement announced the launch of maritime delimitation talks involved China's Taiwan region.

"There is only one China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China," Zhu said.

She noted that the waters involved in the proposed talks are located east of China's Taiwan island and said the planned delimitation negotiations seriously infringe upon China's maritime rights and interests, violate international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and are "totally illegal and invalid."

Zhu said compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to the Chinese nation and should jointly safeguard national sovereignty, territorial integrity and the overall interests of the Chinese nation.

She also accused Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities of relying on external forces and betraying national interests, saying such actions would ultimately be rejected by compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and judged by history.