Japan Posts Photos of Chinese Gas Work in East China Sea

In February Prime Minster Abe said had the expanded security measures been in place, he could have sent in the military to rescue two Japanese hostages held by the Islamic State that were eventually executed.

In 2008, Japan and China agreed to jointly develop resources in the area, which is claimed by both countries.

China has said its construction work in the South China Sea would be used for defense as well as to provide civilian services that would benefit other countries.

Details about the platforms and Japan’s complaints to China about them were included in a last-minute addendum to the Defense Ministry’s annual white paper, which was approved by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet Tuesday.

China’s defense and foreign ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the Japanese report.

One member said: “Even when judged by the values of that time, Japan’s actions were nothing but aggression”, while another said “Although the prime minister will issue the statement, it is an opinion of the government”.

In 2012, Japan’s government angered Beijing by purchasing a disputed, uninhabited island chain in the East China Sea. Beijing is allegedly engaged in a program of artificial island construction in the region.

Japan and the Philippines have conducted two joint naval exercises in and around the South China Sea.

In Manila, Solicitor General Florin Hilbay said the Philippine legal team led by foreign lawyers were able to offer the “best arguments” on why the UN tribunal should take jurisdiction over the country’s territorial dispute with China.

He said Japan and China have yet to demarcate boundaries between the two countries in the East China Sea, and that Japan maintains its position of demarcating the boundaries based on the Japan-China median line.

In a press conference accompanying the release of the photographs, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the structures in the East China Sea would not affect bilateral relations-but from China’s response, it seems the decision to publicly air Japan’s concern might well put a damper on the fragile relationship.

The white paper accused Beijing of “raising concerns among the global community” in language that was markedly more stringent than in previous years.

Meanwhile, the statement released by the Chinese National Defense Ministry described the white paper as “throwing dirt on the image of the Chinese military”.

China Daily said the Chinese navy announced 10 days of military training in the waters near eastern Hainan Island in the South China Sea starting on Wednesday, amid heightened tensions in the region.

China will continue to take necessary measures and stay firm in safeguarding territorial sovereignty. Though the platforms are being built in China’s EEZ zone, Tokyo is not only concerned about the potential for theft of Japan’s oil but also the use of the platforms for military surveillance purposes. While they are right to see Japan as a more independent strategic power, they should focus less on supporting the US or leading a regional coalition against China, and more on defending itself from China.