East China Sea pictures ‘provoking confrontation’
Print Edition
JAPAN’S release of pictures of Chinese construction activities in the East China Sea will only provoke confrontation between the two countries and do nothing for efforts to promote dialogue, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
In a defense review published earlier this week, Japan had urged Beijing to stop building oil and gas exploration platforms close to disputed waters in the East China Sea and expressed concern that Chinese drills could tap reservoirs that extend into Japanese waters.
The ministry said it had every right to develop oil and gas resources in waters not in dispute that fall under its jurisdiction.
“What Japan did provokes confrontation between the two countries, and is not constructive at all to the management of the East China Sea situation and the improvement of bilateral relations,” it said.
In 2012, Japan’s government angered Beijing by “purchasing” the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea. Until that time, Beijing had curtailed its activities under a pact with Japan to jointly develop undersea resources in disputed areas.
China’s position on the pact remained unchanged and it was willing to maintain communication with Japan on related issues, the ministry’s statement said.
“The key is for Japan to create a favorable environment and conditions to implement this consensus,” it added, referring to the pact.
“Japan’s hyping up of the oil and gas issue in the East China Sea will do nothing good to carry out dialogue and cooperation between China and Japan on the East China Sea-related issues.”
Tokyo is concerned the platforms will tap into gas fields that overlap the median line and could be used as radar stations or bases for drones or other aircraft to monitor activity near the Diaoyu Islands.
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