Japan eyes ministerial talks with China
(Agencies/chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2005-10-01 14:37

Energy experts have said that natural gas reserves in the area, estimated as high as 200 billion cubic metres could be hard to extract and are located in a spot ill-suited for sale to the huge Japanese market, Reuters reported.

But Japan has been eager to stress its claims, and has granted exploration firm Teikoku Oil Co. a licence to check resources in the disputed area.

Beijing-Tokyo relations are considered to be at their worst since diplomatic relations were established 30 years ago, mainly due to Japan's attitude to its wartime past.

Japan attacked and occupied China in the 1930s until the end of World War II, and Beijing strongly opposes any resurgence of Japanese military strength.