Japan says 'highly likely' China drilling in disputed gas field

Japan will send a survey ship to the disputed Shiribaka/Chunxiao gas field in the East China Sea to ascertain whether China has begun drilling there, the South China Morning Post reported. Following a dispute in which Japan detained a Chinese fishing boat captain for allegedly ramming Japanese coast guard ships off the disputed Diaoyu/Senkaku islands, China has steadily ratcheted up pressure on Japan, canceling bilateral talks on joint exploitation of the field and withholding shipments of rare earths that Japanese industry needs. Japan has called on China to resume shipments, but China continues to deny an official embargo is in place.  In mid-September, Japan said China had delivered offshore drilling equipment to its facility on the field, and that the murkiness of the water around the platform means it is "highly likely" that China has started drilling unilaterally.