Chinese oil development in E China Sea legitimate (official)

China's oil and gas development in the East China Sea is legitimate and conducted within waters that fall under China's jurisdiction, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.

"The exploration is done in waters without dispute and within China's jurisdiction," Hua Chunying, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry, said at a news briefing, dismissing Japanese criticism that China is acting unilaterally.

Hua called on Japan to correctly understand the principled consensus on the East China Sea and stop making unreasonable demands.

China and Japan reached a principled consensus on the East China Sea issue in 2008, when the two sides agreed to carry out joint oil and gas exploration in the area.

During the third round of high-level maritime consultation in January, China and Japan agreed to hold the fourth round in the latter half of 2015. Both sides are discussing the date and location of the next meeting, Hua said.

Hua also dismissed as untrue reports that during the China-Japan high-level political dialogue held earlier this month, the Japanese side proposed pushing back the resumption of visits between the two leaders to next year.
  Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
23/10/15
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