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Japan Declares Zone, Setting up Stage for Clash with China

[CND, 02/22/96] Japan declared a 200 nautical mile economic zone
around its coast Tuesday, Reuters reports. The move, which still needs
to be approved by the parliament, is seen by observers as setting up
the stage for a possible clash with China on ownership of some
strategically important islands in the Asian waters. A government
spokesman said the zone meets "Japan's national interests as a
maritime nation." No reports are available about China's reaction.
Japanese media reported last week that China was also preparing for
legal ground for a 200 mile economic zone off its coastlines. (Gaixie,
Liedong ZHENG)
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