Abe targets energy projects

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By Wang Zhaokun (Global Times) 10:04, August 02, 2013

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday his country would take a firm stance on China's oil and gas exploration in the East China Sea after his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) submitted to the Japanese government a set of tough proposals on the issue.

Chinese analysts said Japan's accusation was groundless as China is tapping resources in waters under its jurisdiction, urging Japan to stop maliciously playing up the "China threat" and adding fuel to island row tensions.

"The handling of the Chinese side comes in violation of their commitment and it stands to reason" that Beijing should remove its drilling facility in the area, Japan's Kyodo News quoted Abe as saying. "We as the government will firmly address the matter."

An LDP panel led by Abe urged the Japanese government to ask the Chinese side to remove construction materials for the new facility China is building in the area, according to reports by Kyodo.

Tokyo lodged a protest with Beijing early July over China's building of new oil and gas development facilities at the Chunxiao gas field in the vicinity of the "medium line" between the two countries. The protest was rejected by China, as it has never accepted the medium line unilaterally claimed by Japan.

The LDP said in its proposals that China and Japan should start talks immediately to discuss how to develop fields not covered by a 2008 bilateral agreement, which stated Beijing would approve future investments by Japanese companies in Chinese projects.

Although Chunxiao is located on the Chinese side of the Japan-claimed "medium line," Tokyo believes that China's drilling in the area could potentially siphon gas from its side.

Liu Jiangyong, a deputy head of the Institute of Modern International Relations at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times that Japan interpreted the 2008 agreement incorrectly. "According to the agreement, Japanese companies could invest in Chinese programs in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations with China's approval. But China also has the right and ability to develop them on its own," Liu noted.

"China's exploration of oil and gas resources in waters under its jurisdiction is totally legal as the area is an extension of Chinese continental shelf," said Lü Yaodong, a research fellow with the Institute of Japanese Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Science. "Japan's demands are groundless."

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday China will adhere to the policy of "shelving disputes and carrying out joint development" for areas over which China has sovereign rights, but "in no way will China abandon its legitimate rights and interests, nor will it give up its core national interests."

Xi's remarks sent a clear signal that China will continue to unswervingly safeguard its maritime sovereignty and interests, Lü told the Global Times.

Separately, Kyodo reported Thursday that Abe will not visit the Yasukuni shrine on August 15, the anniversary of surrender in World War II.

It said the move could be seen as part of efforts to avoid further tensions with countries such as China and South Korea.

The report came after his deputy Taro Aso Thursday retracted his controversial comments that urged Japan to learn from Nazi Germany's constitutional reforms.

Aso said Monday in a speech that the German Weimar constitution was changed to the Nazi constitution without being noticed and Japan could learn from such tactics.