China rejects Japan’s claims, says oil, gas exploration in East China Sea its ‘sovereign rights, jurisdiction’

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) - China said on Wednesday that its resource exploration activities in the East China Sea fall under Beijing’s “sovereign rights and jurisdiction,” rejecting Japan’s claims that China is pushing “unilateral development” in the contested territory.

“China’s oil and gas exploration activities in the East China Sea are conducted in undisputed waters under China’s jurisdiction,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a live-streamed news conference.

His remarks came after the Japanese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that China is building a new structure for resource development activity in the East China Sea near the Tokyo-proposed median line that separates the exclusive economic zones of the two countries.

Japan described Beijing’s actions as "extremely regrettable" for continuing to push forward with “unilateral development" despite the maritime boundary issue remaining unresolved.

Rejecting Japan’s claims, spokesman Guo said China “does not accept Japan’s unwarranted remarks,” adding that “the matter falls completely under China’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction.”

“China upholds and remains committed to the comprehensive and effective implementation of the principled consensus on the East China issue,” he added.

Japan considers the median line, situated between the two countries’ coastlines, as the official maritime border under its domestic law, while China claims its exclusive economic zone extends much farther.