China Rejects Japan’s Protest Over East China Sea Gas Development

TDT | Manama

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China on Tuesday rejected Japan’s protest over the development of gas fields in disputed waters of the East China Sea.

Japan’s foreign ministry said on Monday that Beijing was setting up drilling rigs in an area where the two countries’ claims overlap. Tokyo described the move as “extremely regrettable” and lodged a “strong protest” with the Chinese embassy.

China responded by saying it “does not accept Japan’s groundless accusations” and rejected the protest. Chinese officials stressed that their activities are taking place in waters they consider undisputed and within China’s jurisdiction.

The dispute traces back to a 2008 agreement, in which both countries agreed to jointly develop undersea gas reserves in the area, with neither allowed to drill independently. However, talks on implementing the agreement have been stalled since 2010.

Tokyo expressed concerns that China’s unilateral drilling could also extract gas from areas Japan claims. The Japanese foreign ministry called for a quick resumption of negotiations to implement the 2008 deal. China, meanwhile, said it remains committed to reaching a consensus and also hopes talks will resume soon.

The disagreement is part of a wider tension between China and Japan in the East China Sea. The two countries also dispute a group of islands known as the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyu in China. China frequently sends ships and aircraft into the area, testing Japan’s response.

China is also involved in other territorial disputes in the South China Sea, claiming most of the waters there despite competing claims from several neighboring countries.