Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO1153
2006-03-03 08:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN-CHINA ENERGY DISPUTES: RESOLVING THROUGH
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UNCLAS TOKYO 001153
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ENRG JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN-CHINA ENERGY DISPUTES: RESOLVING THROUGH
DIALOGUE
REF: TOKYO 1010
UNCLAS TOKYO 001153
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ENRG JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN-CHINA ENERGY DISPUTES: RESOLVING THROUGH
DIALOGUE
REF: TOKYO 1010
1. (SBU) Summary. Japan is committed to resolving its energy
dispute with China through dialogue, METI Director General
Kodaira told EMIN. He expected China to make a counter offer
to Japan,s proposal for joint development of these undersea
resources in talks on March 6-7. Kodaira also mentioned that
METI plans a 10-day Japan-China energy seminar at the end of
May to improve China,s energy use. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Japan is committed to resolving its energy dispute
with China through dialogue, METI's Agency for Natural
Resources and Energy (ANRE) Director General Kodaira told
EMIN on March 2. He said that he and Foreign Ministry Asia
Bureau Director General Sasae would lead a Japanese
delegation to Beijing for talks on March 6-7 exclusively to
discuss the East China issue. Kodaira expected the Chinese
to make a counter offer to Japan,s September 2005 proposal
to jointly develop the oil and natural gas reserves that
straddle the midpoint line.
3. (SBU) Kodaira was optimistic that the East China Sea
energy talks would generate momentum after Minister Nikai,s
recent visit to Beijing (see reftel.) This will be the
fourth meeting at the director general level between the two
countries, the first having taken place in Tokyo in March
2005, followed by one in May in Beijing and the third in
Tokyo in September. Unofficial director general level talks
were held in Beijing on January 9 during which China rejected
Japan,s proposal to jointly develop the oil and gas fields
in the area between the two countries claimed boundaries.
Vice ministerial level meetings were held February 10-11
after a hiatus of more than three months due to Chinese anger
over Prime Minister Koizumi,s visit to the Yasukuni Shrine.
Kodaira admitted that the Chinese had so far ignored Japan,s
request that production in the disputed area be halted until
an agreement was reached. He said the Chinese claimed that
such a stoppage would cause a loss for CNOOC, the Chinese
firm producing in the area.
4. (SBU) Kodaira told EMIN that METI Minister Nikai had also
agreed with his counterpart, Chinese Commerce Minister Bo
Xilai, to work together to improve Chinese energy efficiency.
He said that Japanese and Chinese government organizations
and private businesses were planning a 10-day conference at
the end of May In Tokyo to discuss energy efficiency and
energy technology with an emphasis on the environment. The
joint exercise between the government and the private sector
would include guided tours of relevant businesses in Japan.
China,s Ministry of Commerce and other government officials
are expected to attend.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ENRG JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN-CHINA ENERGY DISPUTES: RESOLVING THROUGH
DIALOGUE
REF: TOKYO 1010
1. (SBU) Summary. Japan is committed to resolving its energy
dispute with China through dialogue, METI Director General
Kodaira told EMIN. He expected China to make a counter offer
to Japan,s proposal for joint development of these undersea
resources in talks on March 6-7. Kodaira also mentioned that
METI plans a 10-day Japan-China energy seminar at the end of
May to improve China,s energy use. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Japan is committed to resolving its energy dispute
with China through dialogue, METI's Agency for Natural
Resources and Energy (ANRE) Director General Kodaira told
EMIN on March 2. He said that he and Foreign Ministry Asia
Bureau Director General Sasae would lead a Japanese
delegation to Beijing for talks on March 6-7 exclusively to
discuss the East China issue. Kodaira expected the Chinese
to make a counter offer to Japan,s September 2005 proposal
to jointly develop the oil and natural gas reserves that
straddle the midpoint line.
3. (SBU) Kodaira was optimistic that the East China Sea
energy talks would generate momentum after Minister Nikai,s
recent visit to Beijing (see reftel.) This will be the
fourth meeting at the director general level between the two
countries, the first having taken place in Tokyo in March
2005, followed by one in May in Beijing and the third in
Tokyo in September. Unofficial director general level talks
were held in Beijing on January 9 during which China rejected
Japan,s proposal to jointly develop the oil and gas fields
in the area between the two countries claimed boundaries.
Vice ministerial level meetings were held February 10-11
after a hiatus of more than three months due to Chinese anger
over Prime Minister Koizumi,s visit to the Yasukuni Shrine.
Kodaira admitted that the Chinese had so far ignored Japan,s
request that production in the disputed area be halted until
an agreement was reached. He said the Chinese claimed that
such a stoppage would cause a loss for CNOOC, the Chinese
firm producing in the area.
4. (SBU) Kodaira told EMIN that METI Minister Nikai had also
agreed with his counterpart, Chinese Commerce Minister Bo
Xilai, to work together to improve Chinese energy efficiency.
He said that Japanese and Chinese government organizations
and private businesses were planning a 10-day conference at
the end of May In Tokyo to discuss energy efficiency and
energy technology with an emphasis on the environment. The
joint exercise between the government and the private sector
would include guided tours of relevant businesses in Japan.
China,s Ministry of Commerce and other government officials
are expected to attend.
SCHIEFFER