Japan to Seek China's Feedback on East China Sea Development

[shugah]

Japan to Seek China's Feedback on East China Sea Development

March 2 (Bloomberg) -- Japan will seek China's feedback on a plan to jointly develop gas fields in the East China Sea when officials from the two countries meet in Beijing on March 6 and March 7, Japan's Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs said.

Japan in October proposed that the two countries develop four gas fields together to resolve a dispute over the area's energy reserves.

``The biggest point is to discuss joint development after hearing China's proposal,'' Yasuhisa Shiozaki, senior vice minister for foreign affairs, told reporters in Tokyo today.

Japan and China, Asia's biggest energy users, are sparring over oil rights in the East China Sea because they've yet to agree on the location of their sea border. China claims its territory extends to the end of the continental shelf, while Japan says the sea border is the median line, or halfway between the countries' shores.

``Both think the joint development'' is the main option, Shiozaki said.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000101&sid=aD0ppberJoP8&refer=japan

[bpilgrim]

1. Joint Development sounds like the best idea to avoid a confrontation

i hope the neoCONs are taking notes.

peace