China rejects Japan's allegations

China rejects Japan's allegations

CHINA: China rejected on Thursday a Japanese claim that one of
its research vessels was conducting a scientific survey in
Japan's territorial waters, saying the ship was operating in
international waters.

On Tuesday Japan lodged a protest over the ship it said was
operating in its exclusive economic zone near southern Okinotori
island without prior notice from China.

"China and Japan have different opinions on the nature of the
relevant waters. China thinks the relevant vessel has made normal
scientific exploration work on the high seas," Foreign Ministry
spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue told a news conference.

The tiff is the latest in a string of disputes chilling ties
between the East Asian giants, including the intrusion of a
Chinese nuclear submarine into Japanese waters last month and a
row over oil exploration in the East China Sea.

Relations are also strained by Japanese Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi's annual visits to a shrine critics say
symbolizes Japan's wartime aggression.

"We have maintained high-level contacts with the Japanese
side. We hope the Japanese side can remain calm and deal with
this matter with prudence," Zhang said. --Reuters