China calls Japan's gas drilling plan 'a serious provocation'

Thursday, April 14, 2005

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters that China is protesting Japan's plan to allow drilling for gas and oil in disputed waters in the East China Sea, characterizing the move as "a serious provocation".

On Wednesday, Japan announced that they would begin processing applications to allow oil and gas drilling firms to explore in the disputed area, east of the "demarcation line" which has held up applications to drill in the area for decades.

"The Chinese and Japanese positions differ on that matter, but we need to continue talks from a big point of view, without inflaming conflicts, and to turn the sea of conflict into a sea of coordination," Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told a news conference.

Qin Gang said that China reserved "the right to take further reaction," according to Xinhua.

"China has never ever recognized and will never recognize the demarcation line," Qin told reporters.

Japan's exploration of the disputed zone could start early next month, and will be defended by Japanese military vessels, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Protesters plan second weekend of demonstrations

Japan's latest move further inflamed Sino-Japanese tensions. Chinese activist Feng Jinhua plans to meet with his group to plan a second weekend of protests in China over Japan's actions.

"Expression of anti-Japanese sentiment and boycott of Japanese products is to be expected from Chinese citizens," Jinhua told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Thousands of anti-Japan protesters marched in Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen last weekend.

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Related news

"Anti-Japan protests spread to more Chinese cities" — Wikinews, April 10, 2005

"Chinese rioters storm Japanese embassy in Beijing" — Wikinews, April 9, 2005

"Chinese protesters smash up Japanese market" — Wikinews, April 3, 2005

"UN Reform: China, South Korea question seat for Japan on Security Council" — Wikinews, March 23, 2005

Sources

Hamish McDonald in Beijing and Deborah Cameron in Tokyo. "Drilling plan infuriates China" — Sydney Morning Herald, April 15, 2005

"China fumes at Japan's gas drilling plans" — Reuters, April 15, 2005

ISN Security Watch. "China-Japan tensions rise over gas field" — International Relations and Security Network, April 14, 2005

"Japanese PM calls for dialogue to solve drill dispute with China" — Xinhua, April 14, 2005

"Japan's drilling plan a provocation: FM" — Xinhua, April 13, 2005

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