China opposes Japanese suggestions on ocean gas exploration
中国反对日本从海底提取天然气

Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party on Thursday asked the Japanese government to counter China’s gas exploration in the East China Sea. China has responded by saying it will not accept Japan’s unreasonable request. China has also lodged solemn representations to the United States after the US Senate passed a resolution expressing concern over Chinese actions in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.

Recent frictions between China and its neighbors in east and south-east Asia mostly originate from maritime disputes.

Of these countries, Japan has been the most active when it comes to voicing its opposition to China.

On Thursday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his country would adopt a firm stance on the issue of China’s oil and gas exploration in the East China Sea. This was after his Liberal Democratic Party submitted to the Japanese government some tough new proposals on the matter.

The LDP recommended that the Japanese Government ask the Chinese side to remove construction materials for the new facility China is building in the area.

Tokyo had lodged a protest with Beijing early in July over the building of new oil and gas development facilities at the Chunxiao gas field in the vicinity of the "medium line" between the two countries.

The protest was rejected by China, as it has never accepted the medium line unilaterally claimed by Japan.

The LDP said in its proposals that China and Japan should start talks immediately to discuss how to develop fields not covered by a 2008 bilateral agreement1o^F_d8qWH78y(。

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that since Japan caused the current difficult situation in bilateral relations, it was incumbent upon it to correct its mistakes and make substantial efforts to get rid of the obstacles in the way of the development of bilateral relationship.

Meanwhile, on Monday, the US Senate approved a resolution, "reaffirming the strong support of the United States for the peaceful resolution of territorial, sovereign and jurisdictional disputes in the Asia-Pacific maritime domains."

The US resolution listed several examples of Chinese behavior, including its surveillance ships entering waters disputed with Japan in the East China Sea. The resolution also says the US will respond to any military attack under the US-Japan Security Treaty.

China reacted strongly to the resolution. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said, "The above resolution proposed by a minority of senators took heed of neither history nor facts, unjustifiably blaming China and sending the wrong message."

China has urged relevant US senators to respect the facts and correct their mistakes so as to not make matters and the regional situation more complicated.