Why in the news?

  • China rejected Japan’s protest over its development of gas fields in the disputed East China Sea, where both nations’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) claims overlap.

East China Sea

  • Location: The East China Sea is a marginal sea in the western Pacific Ocean.
  • Border Countries: China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea.
  • It Connects:
    • The South China Sea via the Taiwan Strait,
    • The Sea of Japan via the Korea Strait,
    • The Pacific Ocean via waters east of Japan.
  • Major Rivers Flowing to Sea: Yangtze River
  • Islands: Includes the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands (claimed by China, Taiwan, and Japan).
  • Strategic & Economic Importance:
    • Shipping Lanes – One of the busiest sea routes, connecting Northeast Asia with the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
    • Fisheries – Rich fishing grounds, vital for China, Japan, and Taiwan.
    • Energy Resources – Believed to have significant reserves of oil and natural gas, especially in the Xihu Trough.
    • Geopolitical Hotspot – Ongoing disputes (especially Sino-Japanese over Senkaku/Diaoyu) make it a sensitive security zone.