Japan Strongly Protests! Good News from the East China Sea Gas Fields!
According to a report from Sankei News on June 23: On the 23rd, the Japanese government lodged a strong protest with China through diplomatic channels, stating that "China has unilaterally begun developing a gas field near the median line in the East China Sea and has started new drilling operations in this area." Media reports in Japan said: This year, China has clearly accelerated development activities in the region, installing steel structures and operating mobile drilling platforms. The Japanese government stated: "We are raising our vigilance."
According to Japanese government officials: China has anchored its drilling rig at a location approximately 400 kilometers northwest of Okinawa Island, near the so-called "median line," and has begun new exploratory drilling.
The Japanese government confirmed this situation on the 22nd and submitted a strong protest via diplomatic channels, saying: "We cannot accept unilateral advancement or the creation of fait accompli in waters where boundaries remain undetermined."
In the same waters, the Japanese government had previously protested in January this year when China began similar exploration activities. By April, reports indicated that China had built new drilling facilities in the same area.
On the 23rd, Mr. Masashi Kanai, Director General of the Asia and Oceania Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, visited the Chinese Embassy in Japan and delivered the protest to Deputy Ambassador Shi Yong.
Japan stated: Based on the 2008 bilateral agreement between China and Japan regarding joint development of gas fields in the East China Sea, both sides agreed to cooperate before the delimitation of the "China-Japan median line" boundary, without undermining relevant legal rights. Japan urged China to resume negotiations as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, China is advancing permanent drilling facility construction on its side of the median line, and as of the 23rd, a total of 23 steel structures have been confirmed.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1868796267167754/
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