ANKARA – Japan has protested to China over the construction of a new structure in a disputed area of the East China Sea.
In a statement issued late Monday, Japan’s Foreign Ministry stated that China has begun installing a new facility on its side of the median line between the two nations.
“It is highly regrettable that China is proceeding with unilateral development in the East China Sea while the Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf boundaries remain undelimited,” the statement said.
A strong protest was issued, urging China to cease its activities and resume stalled negotiations on resource cooperation.
Japan regards the median line between the two countries’ coastlines as the official maritime boundary under its domestic law, while China asserts that its exclusive economic zone extends significantly further.
Although Japan and China agreed in 2008 to jointly develop gas fields in the area, talks have been suspended for some time.
China has not yet responded to Japan’s claims.
