China answers Japanese oil rig concern with joint development offer

Beijing

CHINA repeated a call on Friday for talks with Japan over joint development of gas and oil resources in contested waters in the East China Sea.

The offer comes days after Japan disclosed a map and photographs of what it said were 16 Chinese marine platforms close to Japan's side of a geographical median line that it contends should mark the border between their exclusive economic zones. Japan has yet to respond to China's latest call.