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.
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.
Tokyo protests to Beijing over gas field in East China Sea
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.
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., This news data comes from:http://ht-ewrj-lrob-bl.erlvyiwan.com
- Konektadong Pinoy bill lapses into law
- Hontiveros wants Senate to probe Chinese who pretended to be Filipino
- Discaya’s construction companies competed against each other during biddings
- Earthquake kills 250, injures 500 in Afghanistan
- 13 massage therapists robbed, 2 cry rape
- La Niña may return but temperatures will remain high, UN says
- Globe partners with unconnected.org to provide remote schools with sustainable internet connectivity
- PNP chief leads fun run
- Wife of Australian man wanted in police killings urges him to surrender
- Five journalists among 20 killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza hospital
