Japan and China "argue" because Beijing towed 16 drilling rigs close to Japanese waters

Japan and China are constantly "responding" to each other about Beijing sending 16 oil and gas rigs to disputed sea areas between the two countries.

Singapore's Channel News Asia reported on July 23: Japan and China are taking countermeasures against each other in the East Sea and the East China Sea.

According to Tokyo officials on July 22, China has deployed 16 oil rigs near the maritime border with Japan, a move believed to be in protest of Japan's 2015 Defense White Paper, the new Security Bill, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government's statements on the East Sea tension.

Japan has just released images of China installing an oil rig near the maritime border with Japan (photo: Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense)

In its 2015 Defense White Paper, the Japanese government also released aerial images of the locations of the drilling rigs. There are 12 offshore structures, which are clear evidence that Beijing is unilaterally exploiting oil and gas in disputed areas between the two countries in the East China Sea.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the new images showed that “the total number of structures China has installed in disputed waters over the past two years has reached 16.” According to Japan, Beijing’s continued unilateral exploitation of resources goes against a bilateral agreement signed in 2008 on joint gas development in the East China Sea.

In response, China’s Foreign Ministry said: “Japan’s release of images of the location of its drilling rigs in the East China Sea is provocative, unconstructive and even obstructs bilateral dialogue efforts.” In a statement late on July 22, China’s Foreign Ministry said it had the right to develop oil and gas resources in undisputed waters under its jurisdiction.

Tokyo has long suspected Beijing of violating the agreement by arbitrarily exploring for oil in waters where both countries claim overlapping EEZs, 200 nautical miles. Japan is also concerned that China may build radar stations or bases for planes or other aircraft to monitor airspace and maritime activity near the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu island chain.

According to VOV.VN