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China on Wednesday welcomed a decision by a United Nations (UN)commission not to adopt Japanese claims over the geopoliticalclassification of Okinotori Atoll, an outcropping in the PhilippineSea. "Japan's claim of its outer continental shelf based on OkinotoriAtoll was not acknowledged by the Commission on the Limits of theContinental Shelf," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman HongLei in response to a question at a regular press conference,quoting information released by the UN agency. "Japan's allegation that Okinotori Atoll has been adopted by thecommission as an 'island' is absolutely baseless," said thespokesman. Japanese media, quoting government officials in the country,reported on April 28 that the UN Commission on the Limits of theContinental Shelf agreed with Japan that the sea basin north ofOkinotori Atoll is part of its continental shelf, and thus saidOkinotori was recognized as an "island" and could be used as aterritorial "base point." However, Hong denied Japan's rights to the outcropping, citing thecommission to explain, "As mentioned by the Japanese side, thecommission recognized the Shikoku Basin Region north of OkinotoriAtoll as part of Japan's outer continental shelf. But in fact therecognition was based on other parts of Japan's land territory, notrelated to Okinotori Atoll." Hong said Japan's request submitted to the commission involved some740,000 square km but only 310,000 square km was recognized by thebody. "The areas claimed by Japan as part of its outer continental shelfbut not accepted by the commission include the 250,000-square-kmsouthern Kyushu-Palau ridge based on Okinotori Atoll," added thespokesman. Okinotori Atoll, some 1,700 km south of Tokyo, is only about 10square meters above sea level at high tide. According to Article 121 of the United Nations Convention on theLaw of the Sea, rocks that cannot sustain human habitation or aneconomic life of their own shall have no exclusive economic zone(EEZ) or continental shelf status. An EEZ is an area of sea over which a state has exclusive rights ofexploration. China and South Korea have opposed Japan's illegal attempt to claimareas based on Okinotori Atoll as part of its continental shelf, asOkinotori is a group of rocks and not classifiable as an "island." "Many countries have also expressed their objection against Japan'sillegal claims relating to Okinotori Atoll," noted the spokesman. According to Hong, the commission's decision concerning OkinotoriAtoll is "fair and reasonable" and in line with international law. "[The commission] has safeguarded the common interests of the wholeinternational community and China welcomes the decision," he added. I am an expert from slimming-machines.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Skin Hair Analyzer Manufacturer , E-light RF IPL, Vacuum Slimming Machine,and more.
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