Japanese drilling condemned
Edited by Shen Yang



A Chinese foreign ministry official summoned a Japanese diplomat in Beijing on July 15 to lodge "strong protest" against the Japanese government's approval of a Japanese oil and gas company's drilling request in the East China Sea.

The Japanese government granted the Teikoku Oil Co. concessions to conduct exploratory drilling in the East China Sea, the Japanese Economy, Trade, and Industry Minister, Shoichi Nakagawa, said on July 14.

Cui Tiankai, director of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Asian Department, told Chihiro Atsumi, minister of the Japanese embassy in China, that such activity is a "severe provocation and violation" of China's sovereignty and interest, and is also against the rules of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Cui said China and Japan have not settled their demarcation in the East China Sea, thus it is untenable for the Japanese side, employing its unilateral position on the so-called "middle line", to grant test drilling rights to Japanese enterprises in the disputed area.

Cui said the Chinese side reiterates that it has never recognized the so-called "middle line" and it will never recognize the line.

He said the sea area to the east of the "middle line" is under dispute, and the Japanese side is not entitled to taking unilateral action in that area.

If the Japanese side attempts to impose unilateral action on the Chinese side, the Chinese side will stand firmly opposed to and will never accept it, said Cui.

He said China and Japan should properly handle the disputes and actively explore resolution through dialogues and consultations on an equal footing, which is the basis of the consensus reached between leaders of the two countries.

The Chinese side requests the Japanese side to adhere to the consensus to correct its decision and stop any action that impairs China's sovereign rights and interests, said Cui.
The Chinese Embassy to Japan also lodged solemn representations to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, July 15, said sources with the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

A Chinese gas drilling platform in the East China Sea between China’s eastern coast and Japan’s southern island chain of Okinawa is pictured June 29, 2005.

Vocabulary
summon 召唤
lodge 提出
solemn 严肃的
concession 让步
sovereignty 主权
demarcation 分界
untenable 无根据的
impair 损害

 

 

World in Pictures
Photo source: ImagineChina

	Fancy moustache 德国摄影师胡子长1.5米 German photographer Jurgen Burkhardt, with a fancy 1.5-meter moustache, is seen in Grenoble, France, July 12. He has been covering the Tour de France for 20 years. His 1.50-meter moustache earned him three world titles. Every morning, it takes him thirty minutes to dress it.
	Robot Cup soccer match 世界机器人足球赛日本开锣 Spectators watch a four Legged Robot Cup League soccer match at the Robot Cup in Osaka, Japan, July 15. Thirty-five nations from all over the world are in Osaka to claim the championship of soccer in the robot world.
	Dog as a jockey 小狗骑马 Black Labrador Tyler takes the reins of black beauty Monty as they go for their daily one-mile ride, July 15, in the fields around their home in Cotehill, near Carlisle in the North East of England.
	Disney star 迪斯尼亮相好莱坞星光大道 Disney character Mickey Mouse waves to photographers after Disneyland received the first ever Award of Excellence and a Walk of Fame star on Hollywood Boulevard, July 14, in Los Angeles. The award, first of its kind, was presented to Disneyland on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, for its contribution to the Hollywood community and the entertainment industry.
	Underwater cycling 意大利男子创深海骑车纪录 Italy's Vittorio Innocente sets a new world record in underwater cycling, July 13, pedaling his specially-adapted bike to a depth of 60 meters in the sea near Genoa. The 59-year-old scuba diver beat his own record of 52.5 meters.

 

 

World in Words
Collected & translated by Beverly

"30, 40 years ago, the money went up. But now, all the money comes down. "
"三、四十年前, 晚辈给长辈钱; 但现在, 都是长辈给晚辈钱了. "
Grandparents in the U.S. are increasingly playing important roles in keeping families afloat.
——美国的祖辈们在维持家庭经济正常运行方面正发挥着日益重要的作用.

"We Indians are very patriotic by nature and after 57 years of independence, it is only fair that we be allowed to express our patriotism."
"我们印度人向来很爱国. 在获得独立57年后, 我们终于有权表达我们的爱国热情, 真是太好了. "
An Indian fashion designer, Nikhil Mehra, welcomed the new ruling which allows Indians to wear images of their flag on their garments, provided they do not show disrespect.
——印度颁布新法令, 允许印度人在不存在任何不敬的前提下穿着印有本国国旗的服装. 对此时装设计师尼克黑尔·梅赫拉表示欢迎.

"You'll find children in the United States discussing Harry Potter with children who live in Norway or Indonesia. "
"你会发现美国的小孩和挪威或印尼的小孩在一块儿讨论哈利·波特. "
With the release of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," sixth in the series, the world will again be embraced by a craze for Harry Potter.
——随着哈利·波特系列之六《哈利·波特与混血王子》的面市, 全球又将掀起一阵哈利·波特热潮.

"The goats were happy and the park looks beautiful. We look forward to welcoming them back."
"山羊们过得快活, 而且公园看上去也漂亮了. 我们期待着再请它们回来(帮忙). "
San Pedro's Peck Park Canyon employed 143 goats to clear away the brush. Officials were pleased with the end results.
——(美国)圣佩德罗派克峡谷公园最近雇佣了143头山羊当"清洁工", 负责啃食落在地上的树枝. 公园管理人员对它们的工作成果表示满意.