Japan protests against China’s ocean research in exclusive economic zone
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Tokyo and Beijing face a territorial dispute over a group of Japanese-administered islands in the East China Sea.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
TOKYO - Japan lodged a protest with China to stop ocean research activities in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) after spotting a Chinese vessel in the country’s south-west, said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi on Sept 29.
Japan’s coast guard found the Chinese ship Xiang Yang Hong 22 extending a wire-like object into the ocean in the Japanese EEZ, about 379km west of Amami Oshima island early on the morning of Sept 28, Mr Hayashi said.
“We protested to the Chinese government that conducting marine scientific research in the zone without Japan’s consent was unacceptable,” said Mr Hayashi, the top Japanese government spokesman. He added that the Chinese ship left the waters and moved westward about three hours later.
Tokyo and Beijing face a territorial dispute over a group of Japanese-administered islands in the East China Sea, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. REUTERS
