Japan and the Philippines said last week they would begin formal talks on delimiting the maritime boundary of the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf between the two countries "in accordance with international law".

While they did not give details, China's foreign ministry on Friday said that area covered waters east of Taiwan, which Beijing views as its own territory, adding that such talks are "completely illegal, null and void".

China's Coast Guard said in a statement that a flotilla had carried out the patrol in accordance with the law to the east of Taiwan, though it did not specify where exactly.

"This is a necessary action taken in response to Japan and the Philippines unilaterally announcing the initiation of maritime boundary delimitation negotiations in the waters east of China's Taiwan island," it said.

"We urge Japan and the Philippines to immediately cease all illegal actions that infringe upon China's sovereign rights and interests."

Taiwan's coast guard had no immediate comment. The Philippine and Japanese embassies in Beijing did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Late Sunday, Taiwan's foreign ministry denounced China's comments.

"China has no right to interfere in Taiwan's territorial sovereignty and sovereign rights over its relevant maritime areas,' it said.

Taiwan reports Chinese warships and warplanes operating around the island almost daily, sometimes joined by Chinese coast guard ships.

Earlier on Sunday, Japan's defence minister took a veiled swipe at China, pledging to keep strengthening the military despite Beijing's criticism of Tokyo's increasingly muscular security stance.

Under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan has quickened its pivot towards a more proactive defence policy, further shaking off -- with US encouragement -- a pacifist outlook in place since the end of World War II.

The change has drawn frequent rebukes from Beijing, which has accused Tokyo of following a reckless policy of "new militarism" that could destabilise the region.

Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi hit back on Sunday, saying "nothing could be further from the truth".

Popular

For Palestinians in Indonesia, education is an act of survival

When Indonesian citizenship is hard to prove

Idul Adha and Indonesia’s protein intake paradox