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Beijing, Tokyo hold talks on sea border

AFP, The Straits Times, 28 September 2000

BEIJING -- China and Japan held discussions yesterday on the demarcation of their sea border following new tensions over incursions by Chinese vessels into Japanese waters.

The meetings were scheduled during Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono's visit to Beijing in August in which Mr Kono raised concerns about a number of Chinese research vessels and warships seen in Japan's 370-km exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Both sides had agreed to establish a framework in which the Chinese would give prior notice when they want to undertake research activities within Japan's EEZ.

However, a Chinese research vessel was spotted on Sept 5 off the southern island of Amami Oshima within Japan's EEZ, a Japanese foreign ministry official said.

It remained there until Sept 7, he said.

Tokyo said it has called in Mr Chen Jian, Chinese ambassador to Japan, to complain about the incursion.

Japan and China have yet to sign a treaty delimiting their exclusive economic zones due to a dispute over where their maritime demarcation lines lie. --AFP