China drills for gas in disputed area

http://newsfromrussia.com/china/2005/10/26/66186.html

China drills for gas in disputed area

05:30 2005-10-26
A Japanese embassy official provided apparent evidence Tuesday that China is drilling for natural gas and oil in a disputed part of the East China Sea, although he stressed that Japan was eager to resolve tensions through negotiations.

The official, who refused to be named identified given the sensitivity of the issue, showed reporters photos of an alleged Chinese drilling operation, with flames issuing from parts of the machinery - proof, the official said, that China had begun exploiting natural resources.

China and Japan have been feuding for months over claims to undersea gas deposits in the area. Japan wants China to stop drilling operations immediately until an agreement can be worked out between the countries. Beijing says it is within its rights to develop the region's resources.

more...

Japan & China who do you pick???

:-(

and their tied up in Afghanistan and Iraq defender, the United States.

China slams Japan over drilling in disputed waters

Send to a friendPrint

Thursday, April 14, 2005 at 07:46 JST
The Chinese government on Wednesday slammed Japan's decision to allow drilling for gas and oil in disputed waters as a "provocation" as ties strained by violent anti-Japan protests here continued to deteriorate.

Senior Japanese and Chinese foreign ministry officials discussed the test-drilling for resources in the East China Sea, a Japanese ministry official said early Thursday.


Foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said China has lodged a protest with Japan and "will retain the right to make further reaction."

"Japan has come up with a provocation to China's rights and the norm of international relations," he said, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
/snip
http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&id=334143