According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other domestic laws, China claims sovereignty and jurisdictional rights over the shipwreck area, which is within the Chinese exclusive economic zone, Kong said.

China and Japan have consulted over the issue, he said, noting that the Japanese side conceded Chinese sovereignty and jurisdictional rights over its exclusive economic zone.

Japan had sent a work group to China to clarify and explain the issues of Chinese concern, he said, adding that Japan also proposed the underwater investigation plan and implemented necessary procedures in accordance with the law of the sea and relevant Chinese laws.

He said Japan promised to take effective measures in preventing the pollution of the marine environment, and to report the underwater investigation progress and results.

Hence China would not object to the underwater investigation by the Japanese side, he said.

( April 29, 2002)