The Japan News: Japan, China Eye Nov. for Talks on Gas Fields

The Japanese and Chinese governments are making final adjustments to hold the fourth round of high-level maritime talks in Beijing as early as next month to discuss such issues as China’s gas field development in the East China Sea, sources said.

It will be the first bilateral meeting on maritime issues since the Japanese government in July disclosed aerial photos of offshore structures that China newly constructed near the Japan-China median line for gas field development, and expressed concern over the issue.

During the talks, the Japanese government plans to protest Beijing’s ongoing gas field development in the area.

China has so far constructed a total of 16 offshore structures, and Japanese Self-Defense Forces aircraft confirmed flames coming out of eight of the 16 units — evidence of gas production activities. MORE