China has completed a production test for typhoon conditions and returned to normal production testing of a disputed natural gas field in the East China sea, a Chinese industry newspaper reported.
"On June 5, after successfully undergoing 30 hours of a typhoon mode test run, the Chunxiao natural gas platform production system was returned to normal production testing," reported the China Offshore Oil Press in its June 21 edition.
"This shows that the Chunxiao platform can perform normally under typhoon conditions, and is important for ensuring stable supply to downstream customers."
The natural gas field, which Japan calls Shirakaba, lies in the East China Sea, where Japanese and Chinese exclusive economic zones overlap.
A fifth round of talks over the field yielded little result in May, and the newest round has been deferred until at least early July, the Kyodo news agency said on Friday.
Japan has requested China halt development of the field, which is one of several issues that have kept relations between the Asian neighbours at their lowest ebb in decades. Many disagreements stem from Japan's 1931-1945 invasion and occupation of parts of China, but growing competition for natural resources also plays a role.
In an interview Thursday, Japan's foreign minister Taro Aso said Japan had no information that production had begun yet.
The China Offshore Oil Press is backed by CNOOC Ltd, China's number-three oil company, which is developing the field. CNOOC said earlier this year that the field was slated to start producing in mid-year.
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