Edited and Translated by People's Daily Online The U.N. Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS)has decided not to adopt Japan s claim of an outer continentalshelf based on Okinotori Atoll, meaning that the country cannotclassify the atoll as an island to illegally expand waters underits jurisdiction, according to a statement recently published onthe website of the United Nations. The commission has maintainedthe international maritime order and safeguarded internationaljustice by performing its duties in a fair and independent way. It matters much whether Okinotori Atoll can be classified as anisland. According to the United Nations Convention on the Law ofthe Sea, an island can have the territorial sea, contiguous zone,exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and continental shelf, while rocksthat cannot sustain human habitation or economic life of their ownshall have no EEZ or continental shelf. Any attempt to illegallyexpand territorial waters simply based on an atoll will seriouslydamage the fair and reasonable international maritime order. Okinotori is an atoll in the western Pacific Ocean far away fromJapan, but the country has insisted that it is an island, which isentitled to a continental shelf and an EEZ covering more than100,000 square kilometers. Over the past 30 years, Japan has spentheavily fortifying the atoll and creating artificial facilitiesthere, in order to develop the area into island status. Shockingly, Japan submitted to the CLCS information on the limitsof a continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselinesof Okinotori Atoll in November 2008, in an attempt to takeadvantage of the commission to seek legitimacy and internationalrecognition for its illegal claim. Japan s illegal claim has unsurprisingly received strongopposition from the international community. After Japan ssubmission of its claim to the CLCS, China and South Korea haverepeatedly expressed their concerns to the U.N. secretary-general,and clearly noted that Japan s claim of an outer continental shelfbased on Okinotori Atoll violates international law, and damagesthe interests of the entire international community. The twocountries have called for the commission to ignore Japanese claimsover the geopolitical classification of Okinotori Atoll. After nearly four years of deliberation and investigation, thecommission decided not to adopt Japan s claim, saying that beforethe concerns of China and South Korea are solved, it cannot takeaction on Japan s claim regarding the atoll. The fair andreasonable decision is a de facto rejection to Japan s illegalclaim, and serves the overall interests of the internationalcommunity. Japan is unwise in its attempt to practice deception when knowingthat it cannot hide the truth, untrustworthy to flagrantly violatethe United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as acontracting state, and is unethical to damage the interests of theinternational community for its own benefits. No wonder its illegalclaim failed to gain international recognition. Oceans connect the world s five continents and variouscivilizations. A fair and reasonable international maritime orderis of great significance to maintaining international peace andstability and promoting global prosperity and development. Japanshould abide by international norms, and give up its illegalclaims. International justice will not permit Okinotori Atoll to beclassified as an island. Read the Chinese version:. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Contemporary Wall Clocks Manufacturer , China Handmade Oil Paint for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Removable Wall Stickers.
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