Japan survey ships prepare for deployment, tension with China rises
TOKYO/BEIJING (Reuters) – Japan has ordered geological survey ships to prepare for possible deployment to the East China Sea after it detected Chinese drilling near the disputed maritime border, a source with direct knowledge of the order told Reuters on Thursday.
A plan by Chinese state-run oil firms to dramatically expand gas drilling in the disputed East China Sea, which threatens to further damage ties between Asia’s two biggest economies, was first reported by Reuters on Wednesday.
In a possible sign of brinkmanship, Japanese survey ships, if deployed, would operate “right up to the median line”, which is the disputed maritime boundary with China, said the senior Japanese source who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue.
Tension over the East China Sea has escalated this year, with China and Japan scrambling fighter jets and ordering patrol ships to shadow each other, raising fear that a miscalculation could lead to a broader clash.
The Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) has been ordered to put both its survey ships on standby and to prepare to deploy without any foreign members of staff on board, said the source.
A spokesman at JOGMEC referred inquiries to the government when asked about the possible deployment.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which gave the order, according to the source, also declined to comment. The ministry would normally be in charge of such deployments.
On Thursday, Japan again warned China not to expand gas exploration in the disputed area. China had slowed exploration in the East China Sea but is now rapidly expanding its hunt for gas, a cheaper and cleaner energy to coal and oil imports.
“If the Chinese side is to proceed unilaterally with development in the area over which there are conflicting claims, Japan would never accept it,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a regular news conference on Thursday.
Japan seemed to be taken by surprise at the news that Chinese oil firms would soon ask Beijing to approve seven new gas fields in the East China Sea under a $5 billion expansion plan.
“We are going to closely watch the Chinese side’s reaction to the concerns expressed by our side through diplomatic channels and we will think about our next step,” said a spokeswoman in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s office when asked about any possible deployment.
JOGMEC has two survey ships, the Shigen and the Hakurei. The Shigen is off the coast of Hokkaido in northern Japan and would take about a week to reach the East China Sea, said the source. The Hakurei is in Okinawa, not far from the disputed zone.
damn..those war elephants are beautiful.. 
....can't wait....
