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China calls Japan’s drilling plan ‘provocation’ Tensions between Japan and China further intensified on Thursday after Beijing called Tokyo’s decision to allow oil exploration in a disputed area of the East China Sea a “serious provocation”. The remarks from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggest the dispute over energy resources is becoming the latest flashpoint in the already acrimonious relations between Asia’s two largest economies. Friction between the two rivals has increased following anti-Japanese riots in Beijing and several other Chinese cities this month, triggered by Japan’s treatment of its imperialist history in school text books, and its bid to become a member of the United Nations Security Council. Despite earlier warnings from Beijing, Japan’s Ministry of the Economy, Trade and Industry said Wednesday companies will be permitted to analyse energy deposits in the Xihu Trench, an area east of Shanghai that spans a maritime economic zone partially claimed by both China and Japan. “This move by Japan is a serious provocation of China’s rights and international border norms,” Qin Gang, spokesman of China’s foreign ministry, said in a press briefing on Thursday. “China has already made a protest to Japan, and reserves the right to take further reaction.” The decision to award the exploration rights comes ahead of this weekend’s trip to China by Nobutaka Machimura, Japan’s foreign minister, to discuss relations between the two countries, although the Japanese government insisted the timing was coincidental. China has already conducted test drilling on its side of the Xihu Trench, but Japan contends any reserves China discovers could come from a field that also lies on the Japanese side and has demanded a halt to Chinese exploration. While Japan and China both claim there are significant oil and gas deposits in the Xihu Trench, there are signs the dispute is being deliberately over-politicised. Last September, Royal Dutch Shell, the global oil giant, and Unocal, the US oil company, pulled out of exploration activities at the Xihu site, stating any reserves were smaller than expected and not commercially viable. China has since pursued tests on its own. Japan’s newfound assertiveness has come at a time when China is also starting to flex its diplomatic muscles in tandem with its emerging economic might – a role that threatens Japan’s position as Asia’s leading economic and diplomatic force. During his trip to Beijing, Mr Machimura plans to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and, in an attempt to diffuse growing tensions, set up a joint group to study the interpretation of their bilateral history. >
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