Not a territorial assertion, the Government of Japan
determined two areas of continental shelf in East China Sea as its own. In
order to secure Japan’s sovereign natural resources, the government went one
step forward in the dispute with China. Although China has not responded so
far, it may accelerate competition over rare materials in the sea. No
communication between two economic great powers has yet been established, deteriorating
security in Northeast Asia.
United Nations Convention on the Law in the Sea defines
limit of continental shelf as two hundred nautical miles away from coast, area
which the coastal country can have precedence for taking advantage of natural
resources. If the country proves it to be naturally connected, it can extend
the limit to three hundred fifty nautical miles away or less. Japan has been
expecting energy resources, including methane hydrate possessing natural gas,
in East China Sea.
In November 2008, Government of Japan submitted a request to
extend the limit in seven places in East China Sea to U.N. Commission on the
Limits of the Continental Shelf. The commission admitted two places out of
seven as possible extended area for Japan, dismissing two in 2012. Other two
places also could be allowed with condition of drawing border with United
States, and it did not concluded on one place. The two areas Japan determined
to be its own continental shelf was admitted places by the commission.
The government decided those two admitted area as Japan’s
continental shelf by government ordinance on Tuesday. One of them is a broad
area surrounded by Okinawa, Ogasawara Archipelago and Okinotori-shima, the
southernmost island of Japan. The government assumes rich methane hydrate
there. In the Marine Development Plan in 2013, it projected commercialization
of methane hydrate by the end of 2018. One expert predicted that value of
available natural resources sleeping under the sea would be worth three hundred
trillion yen. But, technology of drilling or method of transportation has not
determined yet. There are other some obstacles for commercialization.
China has been disputing that Okinotori-shima Island would
not be recognized as an island with residents or independent economic
activities, the condition which U.N. Convention required to be a basis for continental
shelf. As far as main purpose for the assertion to Pacific Ocean is to develop
natural resources, China may not be giving in soon. It is unpredictable how
China will respond to Japan’s action.
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