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Mr Xi's decision to legitimise these has raised eyebrows because it comes just months afterHere's Eugene Kuo Yujen, an analyst with Taiwan's Institute for National Policy Research:
"After what happened in Ukraine, it sends a very threatening signal to Taiwan, Japan and the surrounding countries in the South China Sea," Dr Kuo said. Chinese state media says Mr Xi's order would provide a legal basis for protecting "property, and maintaining national sovereignty, security, development interests, and regional stability".
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