Japan spent $ 107 million development in the Pacific Islands

Japan has announced to spend $ 107 million expansion to add Okinotorishima atoll in the Pacific of the country, 1,740 km from Tokyo.


Okinotorishima atoll reinforced with concrete blocks - Photo: Kyodo

According to SCMP, the Japanese government will spend 13 billion yen (107 million dollars) for the reconstruction of infrastructure works on Okinotorishima atoll capital, 1,740 kilometers south of Tokyo.

The move will help expand the exclusive economic zones of Japan in the Pacific.

Until now China is the always vocal critic claims of Japan in Okinotorishima atoll.

The country leads the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea says that Okinotorishima just a rock that is uninhabitable, so Tokyo can not use it to extend the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone 200 miles physical.

At the present time Beijing has no comment on the latest plans for the development of Japan's Okinotorishima island, however, experts say, that's just something sooner or later.

Associate professor of political science Stephen Nagy and international relations Christian University in Tokyo International said: "The reaction of the Chinese will be interesting, especially when you look at what is happening in the South China Sea. I do not think they will ignore this claim by Japan. They would say it is part of a strategy to legalize Japanese vision of the status of the Senkaku Islands (which China calls the Diaoyu), but they will try to separate it from what Beijing is doing South China Sea ".

Experts said that it would be ironic if Beijing now insist cited legal arguments to show why the Japanese are not allowed to develop Okinotorishima island, meanwhile, is what national this is done on a number of Shoals in the Paracels and Spratlys of Vietnam.


A Japanese base was built in 2013 at Okinotorishima atoll used as a place to unload supplies, fuel and water - Photo: Asahi Shimbun

Okinotorishima Island is very important to the Japanese in the search for new resources. Seabed around the island is said to be storing valuable resources trillions of yen.

The Japanese government paid special attention to the development of methane hydrate gas reserves, gas is seen as an important energy source of the future.

If the mineral resources are exploited in an industrial scale, it will help Japan to substantially reduce the dependence on supplies from China.