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.
Tokyo protests to Beijing over gas field in East China Sea
“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.
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., This news data comes from:http://www.redcanaco.com
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.
- Afghanistan earthquake kills more than 800
- Malacañang hits back at VP Duterte's criticism on flood scam probe
- House tackles P881B public works budget amid flood control anomalies
- Comelec: Postponed village, youth elections not in 2026 budget
- Japan accelerates missile deployment amid rising regional tensions
- Pagasa sees two to four tropical cyclones hitting Philippines in September
- Classes suspended in 10 Metro Manila cities due to rains
- Marcos suspends importation of regular, well-milled rice for 60 days
- 15 people hospitalized after double-decker bus crashes outside London's Victoria Station
- Sara says govt corruption probe a 'zarzuela,' plans to meet Robredo im Bicol festival
