The Sino-Japanese energy dispute in the East China Sea: Strategic policy, economic opportunities, and cooperation

On 18 June 2008, Chinese and Japanese authorities announced that they had reached a new consensus in their maritime territorial dispute in the East China Sea. This article explores the sustainability of this agreement in light of past Sino-Japanese cooperation on energy issues, both generally and in the maritime realm. Specifically, it explores the impact of strategic and economic prerogatives on the cooperative track record in light of the consensus in the literature that Sino-Japanese energy relations, particularly the territorial dimension, are increasingly competitive. The article argues that the June 2008 agreement can be reinforced despite poor market conditions for offshore exploration.