TOKYO — Japan has lodged a protest with China after discovering what it says were efforts by Beijing to develop gas fields in disputed waters of the East China Sea.
Tokyo’s foreign ministry said on Monday night it had confirmed that Beijing was setting up drilling rigs in the area — where the two countries’ exclusive economic zones (EEZs) claims overlap — and submitted a complaint to the Chinese embassy.
“It is extremely regrettable that China is advancing unilateral development,” the ministry said, adding that it had taken place on the Chinese side of the de facto maritime border.
The ministry accused China of positioning 21 suspected drilling rigs, with Tokyo fearing gas on the Japanese side could also be extracted.
Tokyo protests to Beijing over gas field in East China Sea
Japan “issued a strong protest” to the Chinese embassy, the ministry said.
It “strongly urged China for an early resumption of talks on the implementation” of a 2008 bilateral agreement regarding the development of resources in the East China Sea, it added.
That agreement saw Japan and China agree to jointly develop undersea gas reserves in the disputed area, with a ban on independent drilling by either country.
But negotiations over how to implement the deal were suspended in 2010.
Japan has long insisted the median line between the two nations should mark the limits of their respective EEZs.
China, however, insists the border should be drawn closer to Japan, taking into account the continental shelf and other ocean features., This news data comes from:http://www.771bg.com
The two countries are embroiled in a separate row over disputed islands elsewhere in the East China Sea.
Tokyo protests to Beijing over gas field in East China Sea
China claims the string of islands — which Japan refers to as the Senkakus and are known as the Diaoyu by Beijing — as its own, and regularly sends ships and aircraft into the area to test Tokyo’s response times.
China also has disputes with several other nations in the South China Sea, which it claims in its entirety.
- Pagasa monitors LPA off Cavite, may still become tropical depression
- Ballots for oct 13 BARMM polls completed – Comelec
- SC acquits suspect in 2012 killing of Dutch aid worker over doubtful testimonies
- Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin makes surprise departure ahead of a risky court ruling
- Chinese sleeper agents' and PLA operatives a threat, Lacson warns
- Canada removing tariffs on US goods compliant with free trade deal
- House holds budget review with 21 civil society organizations
- New judge to handle Dengvaxia cases named; hearing set
- Comelec probes 15 govt contractors over 2022 election donations
- Diokno urges Philippines to rejoin ICC to counter China's aggression
