Japan's Foreign Ministry has lodged a formal protest with China over Beijing's construction of new structures in waters near the Japan-China median line in the East China Sea, which Tokyo claims are efforts to develop gas fields in disputed areas. This marks the third such structure China has installed this year in the contested maritime region. Japan has called on China to cease these activities, asserting they violate Japan's territorial claims. In response, the Chinese Foreign Ministry, through spokesperson Guo Jiakun, rejected Japan's accusations as baseless, stating that the construction and gas development occur entirely within waters China considers undisputed and under its sovereign jurisdiction. China has also demanded clarification from Japan and lodged serious representations against the protest. Separately, ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II commemorations in China on September 3, the Japanese government has raised concerns through diplomatic channels about videos circulating on Chinese social media that insult Emperor Showa, describing the content as inappropriate and requesting China to take appropriate measures. China has criticized Japan's efforts to urge other countries not to attend the upcoming commemorative events, calling such moves insulting to history.