Eric Watkins
Senior Correspondent
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 27 -- Japan plans to step up surveillance of its disputed maritime border region in the East China Sea to prevent China from developing natural gas fields in the area.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will add flights of patrol aircraft in the area in cooperation with the Japan Coast Guard and the Ministry of Economy and Industry.
China reportedly has completed development of three gas fields near the border along with offshore facilities in Tianwaitian field near the border region.
Japan claims that the subsea resources China is developing extend across the maritime border into Japanese territory.
The countries, which will hold another round of talks in Tokyo on the issue beginning Sept. 30, have been holding talks on the issue since May.
China has proposed joint development of the fields, but only for the portion that falls on Japan's side of the border. Japan has asked that the Chinese side be included.
Meanwhile, if China does not compromise, the Japanese government is considering test drilling at a site on its side of the border near Chunxiao gas field.
In August, the Japanese government issued a new protest to China over Chunxiao field, saying Beijing had the means to start producing from the disputed area (OGJ Online, Aug. 15, 2005).
Contact Eric Watkins at [email protected].
