China Deploys Ships to Area Japan Claims (Disputed Gas Field)

[buzzsaw_23]

China deploys ships to area Japan claims
Tensions rise as fleet of warships appears near disputed gas field just days before election and a few weeks before drilling is to begin

Norimitsu Onishi, Howard W. French, New York Times

Tokyo -- In a muscular display of its rising military and economic might, China deployed a fleet of five warships on Friday near a gas field in the East China Sea, a potentially resource-rich area that is disputed by China and Japan.

The ships, including a guided-missile destroyer, were spotted by a Japanese military patrol plane near the Chunxiao gas field, according to Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Forces. It is believed to be the first time that Chinese warships have been seen in that area.

Although the fleet's mission was unclear, the timing suggested that it was no coincidence. The warships appeared two days before a general election in Japan, whose results could greatly influence relations between Asia's two great powers, and weeks before China is scheduled to start producing gas in the area, despite strong Japanese protests.

Until Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi diverted Japanese voters' attention away from Japan's deteriorating relationship with China, the focus for several months had been on the increasing diplomatic, military and economic rivalry with China -- much of it taking place in the waters between the countries. Both Japan and China are determined to wield a strong hand in the oil-rich seas and strategic shipping lanes that lie between them.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/09/11/MNGDGELU7M1.DTL

[Lilyhoney]

1. Thanks for the link.

The SF Gate is a great paper. :hi:

[icymist]

2. 5 Chinese naval ships spotted near East China Sea gas field (Japan Today)

5 Chinese naval ships spotted near East China Sea gas field
Saturday, September 10, 2005 at 06:56 JST
TOKYO — Five Chinese naval ships, including a missile destroyer, were spotted Friday morning near the Chunxiao gas field in the East China Sea, where Japan and China have a dispute over demarcation, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force said.

http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&id=348697