Are Japan-Philippines talks a maritime red line for China’s blue-water ambitions?

Japan and the Philippines have begun formal negotiations to delimit their overlapping exclusive economic zones and continental shelves. This move, described as a calculated geopolitical effort by US allies, has drawn strong opposition from Beijing. Experts warn these talks could reinforce the "first island chain" and restrict China's naval access in the western Pacific, an area considered vital for any potential conflict over Taiwan. The negotiations, which significantly overlap with Taiwan's maritime zones, have sharpened regional tensions.