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.
The number of claimed incursions is nearly a threefold increase from eight in 2003.
"It is extremely regrettable to see the violations repeated," the statement said. "We strongly hope the Chinese government to instruct research vessels properly and prevent the problems."
Japan claims the Okinotorishima outcroppings, which are heavily fortified by cement embankments, are islands and therefore extend its exclusive economic zone far into the Pacific.
China does not dispute Japan's territorial claim to Okinotorishima, but argues that they're only rocks -- meaning Beijing is free to exploit the natural resources in some of the waters claimed by Japan.
Under international law, an island, which by definition is a naturally-formed land mass that stays above water during high tide -- can be used to determine the limits of a country's economic zone.
A 40-member team commissioned by the private Nippon Foundation was headed for Okinotorishima to do onsite research on Monday and Tuesday, foundation spokesman Hideo Fukuda said by telephone from their boat.
"The purpose of the trip is to seek ways to make better use of marine resources in the area, and it's not a political action targeting China," Fukuda said.
The team plans to survey coral, take sea water samples and assess the possibility of building a lighthouse and a power generation plant, he said.
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