Japan blasts China for carrying out undersea surveys

[dArKeR]

Japan yesterday accused China of illegally conducting undersea surveys in its territory 22 times last year, including nine surveys near two Pacific Ocean islets at the center of a dispute between the two countries over resources.

Meanwhile, a delegation from a Japanese nongovernment group yesterday steamed toward the Okinotorishima islets to study the possibility of building a lighthouse it hopes would strengthen Japan's foothold there.

In a statement, Japan's Foreign Ministry said China had illegally conducted undersea surveys inside Japan's special economic zone 22 times last year, nine of them around the Okinotorishima outcroppings located 1,730km southeast of Tokyo.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/03/26/2003247815