China calls for discussing E China Sea dispute with Japan

BEIJING - China has always insisted on properly resolving disputes with Japan concerning the East China Sea through dialogue and negotiation, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Wednesday.

When asked to comment on the Japanese government's concerns regarding the construction of a Chinese drilling rig in the East China Sea, Hua said China does not accept Japan's protests.

Hua said China is developing the waters under its own administration and therefore cannot be criticized for its activity.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Wednesday that China appears to be building a drilling platform on the Chinese side of a line of demarcation that separates the territory of both nations.

Hua said China has never recognized the line of demarcation, adding that it was unilaterally imposed by Japan.

In response to a question about Sino-Japanese talks on East China Sea delimitation and joint development, Hua said China has held a very clear stance regarding the demarcation of the East China Sea.

She said China insists on resolving the issue through negotiations according to the principles of equity and the natural extension of the continental shelf.

"China's stance on the delimitation of the East China Sea has not changed," Hua said, adding that China is still working on resolving the issue through negotiations.

She said China has always insisted that both sides should shelve disputes and carry out joint development until the disputes can be resolved.

She expressed hope that the Japanese side can create appropriate and sound conditions for the resolution of the disputes through friendly negotiation.

China and Japan have overlapping claims over parts of the East China Sea, which separates the two countries.

Japan has repeatedly sent public service vessels and aircraft to waters where Chinese oil and gas rigs have been built, although these areas are within the Chinese side of the line of demarcation imposed by Japan.