Eric Watkins
Senior Correspondent
LOS ANGELES, June 1 -- Japan has rejected a proposal by China for joint development of gas fields in the East China Sea, but both sides have agreed to further talks on their disputed maritime boundary in an effort to reduce tensions.
In a meeting held May 31-June 1 in Beijing, China also rejected Japan's request to halt its projects and to hand over data from the disputed gas fields.
The two sides agreed to launch a working group to discuss ways to demarcate the countries' exclusive economic zones in the East China Sea. They also agreed to meet again as soon as possible in Tokyo to continue discussions.
In April, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi called for dialogue between Japan and China to help settle their growing disagreement over oil and gas drilling rights in the disputed waters (OGJ, May 2, 2005, p. 40).
