China calls for upholding fair, just international maritime order

China calls for peaceful resolution of territorial and maritime disputes through negotiation and consultation in order to uphold a fair and just maritime order, Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying said when addressing the 2025 Symposium on International Maritime Dispute Settlement and International Law held in Beijing on Monday.

During the symposium, scholars and experts from China and abroad held extensive discussions on mechanisms for settling maritime disputes and pressing issues in the field.

In her speech at the event, Huasaid China always advocates that territorial and maritime disputes be settled peacefully through negotiation and consultation by the states directly involved on the basis of respecting historical facts in accordance with international law. She noted that the international community should support all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of maritime disputes and genuinely respect the consensus and steps taken by regional countries to preserve peace.

Hua underlined that while 2025 has been a fruitful year for global ocean governance, the oceans are by no means tranquil.

"Some countries have repeatedly used force at sea under various pretexts, gravely threatening regional peace and security. There have also been incidents of unilaterally issuing and implementing 'deep-sea mining decrees', encroaching on the common heritage of humankind. Issues such as international submarine cables, distant-water fisheries and maritime passages are constantly politicized, seriously disrupting the intentional maritime order. All parties must steadfastly uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, exercise their rights and fulfill their obligations in accordance with international law, and continuously advance and improve the application of the rule of law in maritime affairs on the basis of consensus," she said.

On sustainable ocean development, Hua stressed that China is both an advocate and a practitioner. She reiterated China's long-standing position that disputes over territory and maritime rights be resolved peacefully by the directly concerned countries through negotiation and consultation, in conformity with international law and in light of historical facts. "China opposes any distortion of the interpretation or application of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the abuse of UNCLOS's dispute-settlement procedures, and the initiation of vexatious litigation in violation of the principle of state consent. China will continue to promote dialogue and cooperation with the countries concerned, build mutual trust and remove misgivings, create conditions for the final settlement of maritime issues, and contribute to regional peace and stability," said the vice minister. Wu Shicun, chairman of the Huayang Institute for Research on Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance and director of the academic committee and at China's National Institute for South China Sea Studies, called for joint efforts to address challenges in maritime governance.

"Maritime governance is confronted with fragmentation, while maritime disputes are becoming increasingly heated, and rival blocs are forming on the water. The security of infrastructure -- under-sea cables in particular -- and the impact of unilateral actions on multilateral governance mechanisms are among the challenges that require a collective response," he said in an interview with China Central Television.

China calls for upholding fair, just international maritime order

A group of Japanese peace activists gathered outside the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Friday to protest the government's push for constitutional revision and the lifting of a ban on lethal weapons exports.

The Japanese government officially revised the "Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology" and related implementation guidelines on April 21, allowing overseas sales of weapons, including those with lethal capabilities.

Kyodo News, a Japanese news agency, said the changes mark a significant shift in the country's defense policy, noting that it has long touted itself as a "peace-loving nation" under its war-renouncing Constitution since its defeat in World War II.

The protesters accused the Takaichi administration of lifting the export ban without sufficient debate or deliberation in the National Diet.

"Without full discussions in the National Diet, the government just arbitrarily decided on arms exports and made various excuses for it. Also, regarding the incident of intrusion into the Chinese embassy, the government has not issued an apology. Japan should be on friendly terms with neighboring countries, yet it engages in actions that incite confrontation. [Constitutional revision] is truly disturbing. Especially nowadays, the Liberal Democratic Party and Prime Minister Takaichi are pushing for arms exports in order to build a nation capable of waging war. This is absolutely unacceptable," one female protester said.

"As a matter of fact, it [lifting the ban on lethal weapons exports] was arbitrarily decided by the cabinet without any consideration of people's opinions. Revising the pacifist constitution will undoubtedly harm Japan's national interests. I sincerely hope that the Takaichi administration will stop this practice," a male protester said.

"Article 9 of Japan's constitution has gradually, to some extent, been distorted by various faits accomplis. While Japan is nominally a 'peaceful country,' this is not the case in reality," another female protester said.

Protesters rally in Tokyo against arms exports, constitutional revision