China Tuesday urged Japan not to distort the principled consensus on the East China Sea issue.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang made the remarks in response to a reporter's question on China's development of the Tianwaitian gas field in the East China Sea.

Under a China-Japan principled consensus on the East China Sea issue, reached in June, the two sides will, through joint exploration, select by mutual agreement areas for joint development in the block mentioned by the consensus under the principle of mutual benefit.

The two sides agreed to continue discussions for the early realization of joint development in other parts of the East China Sea.

Qin had explained China's stances over this issue on Sunday that the consultations will continue for the early realization of joint development in "other parts of the East China Sea," not in China's undisputed territorial water. There is no basis for raising the issue of joint development in such areas.

He said China's exploration of the Tianwaitian gas field in the East China Sea was an exercise of its inherent sovereign rights. The Tianwaitian oil and gas field was under the administration of China's undisputed territorial water.

"Our position is unchanged," Qin said on Tuesday.

According to Qin, China and Japan still maintained contacts on the issue.

(Xinhua News Agency January 7, 2009)