Gas Field Dispute Reignited

Japan has made overtures that it may bring China before an international tribunal over the long-disputed Chunxiao gas field in the East China Sea, according to a Japanese newspaper February 22.

The Mainichi Newspaper reported that the Japanese government accused China of developing the gas field – in violation of a 2008 joint agreement on cooperative development – and the foreign minister told his Chinese counterpart that Tokyo might consider appealing to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.

In response, China's foreign ministry spokesman said that China maintains the common understanding and its position has never changed. The Japanese side could participate in the cooperative development of the Chunxiao oil and gas field, but the cooperative development is different from "joint development," said Qin Gang from the Chinese foreign ministry.