China adds 3 oil rigs in East China Sea www3.nhk.or.jp
A US think tank says China has built 3 new oil rigs in the East China Sea despite Japan's objections.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies released a report on Monday highlighting China's oil field development in the region.
The report says satellite images show China has placed 3 new rigs in waters on the Chinese side of a median line between the 2 countries.
It also detected an increase in activity by Chinese vessels in waters near the new rigs between July and September this year.
The latest CSIS discovery brings the total number of Chinese structures in regional waters to 19.
The 2 nations reached an agreement in 2008 to jointly develop oil fields in the region. But Japanese officials say that while negotiations for a treaty have since stalled, China has continued with its maritime developments.
In August, the Japanese government lodged a protest with China after a Chinese drilling ship was engaged in some kind of activity in the area. It demanded China stop its unilateral development.
China's foreign ministry said that the work was being carried out in undisputed waters under Chinese jurisdiction.
Published Date:2017-10-03