Japan protested China¡¯s deployment of a mobile drilling vessel in an area in the East China Sea known for gas reserves, as diplomatic tensions continue to escalate between Asia¡¯s two largest economies.
Japan confirmed China moored and fixed a drilling vessel in the Chinese side of the two countries¡¯ median line in the East China Sea, prompting Japan¡¯s Coast Guard to issue a navigation warning on Jan. 2, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara. The activity took place even though the boundaries of the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the area remain undetermined, Kihara said.
¡°It is deeply regrettable that China continues its unilateral development activities and attempts to make them an established fact in these waters despite repeated protests from Japan,¡± Kihara said Thursday. ¡°We immediately strongly protested through diplomatic channels.¡±
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