U.S. asks Japan, China for restraint over East China Sea gas project
The United States urged Japan and China on Thursday to exercise
restraint over the issue of natural gas exploration in a disputed area
of the East China Sea.
"The United States urges the parties to effect an agreement on the
delimitation of the continental shelf in the East China Sea," a State
Department official told Kyodo News on condition of anonymity.
Until such an agreement is forged, Japan and China should make every
effort "to enter into provisional agreements of practical nature in
the spirit of understanding and cooperation," the official said.
The United States asks the two countries "not to jeopardize or hamper
the reaching of the final agreement," the official said.
Earlier this month, Japan began a survey for the exploration of
natural gas in what it considers its own exclusive economic zone in
the East China Sea as a step to counter China's building of a natural
gas complex nearby.
China disputes Japan's rights to explore the area east of the median
line between the two countries, which Japan has proposed as the
demarcation line for their exclusive economic zones. China claims the
demarcation line is located closer to the Japanese archipelago.
"We recognize this is a sensitive issue for both China and Japan," the
U.S. official said. "We will do our best to ensure that U.S. companies
are aware of sensitiveness on both sides."
"The U.S. government does not take a position on a maritime boundary
dispute between third states," the official said.
U.S. companies are joining a Chinese project to explore for natural
gas in the disputed area.
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