By Robert Marquand

July 23, 2015

"Japan this week asked China to stop building oil platforms next to a disputed area in the East China Sea. Beijing in turn called Japanese foreign policy 'two-faced' and reprimanded Tokyo for issuing photos of the oil rigs.

The exchange follows a defense white paper by Japan on Tuesday that said China's construction of some 16 oil rigs could be used to exploit resources on Japan’s side of territorial waters.

The paper, issued days after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won the first round in a legislative battle to allow Japan’s Self Defense Forces to fight overseas, also criticized China for its recent activity near Fiery Cross Reef in the South China Sea. Beijing has been reclaiming small islands there off the coasts of Vietnam and the Philippines, including building a landing strip, reports Defense News."

Read more:

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Security-Watch/terrorism-security/2015/0723/Japan-and-China-square-off-over-disputed-East-China-Sea-territory

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