Eric Watkins
Oil Diplomacy Editor
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 5 -- Japan said it "cannot accept" China's development of the Tianwaitian gas field near a disputed part of the East China Sea, saying instead that the area should be under negotiation.
"The Japanese government expresses its regret that China is unilaterally developing the field," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura, adding, "Japan cannot accept China's unilateral development."
Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone, describing the Chinese actions as "regrettable," called for the early resumption of negotiations between the two sides.
"I can't say exactly when it would be, but I believe the most important thing right now is for working-level discussions on this issue to resume soon," said Nakasone.
The governments of Japan and China agreed on joint development of the gas fields in June 2008.
The accord includes joint development in the area near the Asunaro (known in China as Longjing) gas field, and Japan's investment in the development of the Shirakaba (known in China as Chunxiao) gas field.
The Tianwaitian field (known in Japan as Kashi) was not mentioned by name in the June agreement but Japan contends it is part of further negotiations and should be left undeveloped.
"Our understanding is that the status of the [fields] outside of the political agreement is blank. Therefore the status quo is the way it should be," Kawamura said. But China disputes the Japanese claim.
"The gas field development activities of the Chinese side are being carried out within China's inherent sovereign rights," said foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang.
According to a weekend report in Japan's Sankei Shimbun newspaper, China has already finished the drilling in Kashi-Tianwaitian, and "there is the strong possibility that China has entered the stage of production."
Contact Eric Watkins at [email protected].