Japan approves oil drilling, China protests (Agencies) Updated: 2005-07-14 17:11
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao expressed "serious concern"
over the move.
"If Japan deliberately authorizes private enterprises the right to drill,
this will constitute a serious infringement of China's sovereignty and will
complicate the East China Sea situation," Liu told a press briefing.
"We strongly advise Japan not to take any actions that are unfavorable for
the stability of the East China Sea and would damage China-Japan's overall
relations," he added.
Teikoku Oil said the actual drilling could take more time, as it looks into
safety concerns about working on the sea at the center of the international
dispute.
"We would like to conduct test-drilling in the future," the Tokyo-based
company said in a statement.
"However, there are many issues regarding the water area such as safety so we
want to make a decision on when actual work will take place after consulting
with the government agencies concerned," it said.
Japan and China have held a series of high-level
meetings to address their growing disputes but they have reached little
agreement on the gas fields other than to keep talking.
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