On Tuesday, Japan lodged a strong protest with China after confirming that Beijing had constructed a new structure on the Chinese side of the median line in the East China Sea, which serves as a de facto boundary between the two countries.  

In a statement, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the protest was delivered by Masaki Kanai, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, to Yang Yong, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo. Japan urged China to resume negotiations on the implementation of the **June 2008 bilateral agreement**.  

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi stated at a press conference, "It is extremely regrettable that China has proceeded with new construction while the demarcation of the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the East China Sea remains unresolved."  

Hayashi called on China to halt unilateral development and attempts to "create a fait accompli," reiterating Tokyo’s call for an early resumption of negotiations to implement the 2008 agreement. Under that agreement, the two countries had agreed to cooperate in the development of natural resources in the relevant area, but talks have stalled since 2010.  

On Monday, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that China had begun installing a new facility on the western side of the equidistance line between the two countries in the East China Sea.  

To date, China has constructed 20 facilities near the boundary proposed by Japan. Although all these structures are located on the Chinese side of the median line claimed by Japan, Tokyo is concerned that these installations could be linked to the Japanese side of the median line.