China, Japan to meet over E China Sea dispute
23 September 2005
Following Japan's protests over new drilling activity by China in the disputed waters of East China Sea, Japan and China will meet to resolve the dispute over claims to undersea oil and gas deposits in the disputed area, the AP reported, citing Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura. Earlier this week, Japan protested over what it said was China's unilateral decision to start extracting natural gas from the Tianwaitian oil field in the East China Sea. In turn, China said the new gas drilling activity was within its rights, though it was willing to negotiate with Japan over the territorial boundary issue. In July, Beijing formally protested Tokyo's decision to give a private oil company drilling rights in the disputed area.