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Chicoms begin drilling at undersea gas field near Japanese territory
From East Asia Intel, subscription req'd.Tokyo has authorized Japanese companies to begin exploring undersea natural gas in waters claimed by both Japan and China, a move likely to increase tensions in Northeast Asia. However, reports last week from Tokyo said China has already begun drilling and is "highly likely" to begin production of gas at the Chunxiao field near the median line in the East China Sea. China is developing three fields near the median line that Tokyo says will extend into Japanese territory. "Don't like it, sue us, sez the Chicoms. China began drilling work on the Chunxiao field in early August, according to Japanese officials quoted in the Sankei Shimbun. "If the [gas field development] is carried out at this pace, China may start full production in October, or in November at the latest," said a senior Foreign Ministry official. To counter the Chinese moves, Japan's government granted Teikoku Oil Co. exploration rights to test drill at three sites in the Japanese territory near the median line. The company has not yet begun drilling. If you want to be a player, better drill it. Posted by: Alaska Paul 2005-09-08 |
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