Japan approves oil drilling, China protests
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-14 17:11

The two nations are among the world's biggest energy importers as they try to keep their huge economies running. A Japanese survey in 1999 estimated the disputed fields had a massive 200 billion cubic meters of gas.

Japan has previously protested that China may be drilling beyond what Tokyo considers the median line. China has insisted its exploration is not in the disputed portion of the waters and has instead called for joint exploration of the gas fields.

The dispute comes at a time of tense relations between the Asian nations with China accusing Japan of failing to atone for its bloody occupation of parts of the mainland that ended in 1945.

The Mainichi Shimbun reported last month that Japan was considering putting any company that drills in the East China Sea under government contract to show Tokyo's commitment and help shoulder the costs.

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