China, Japan Far Apart on Exploration Rights in East China Sea

China and Japan can't come to an agreement on who owns who owns the gas exploration rights in the East China Sea.

For the 10th time, talks aimed at a resolution have failed.

Japan, however, is saying these last talks were useful and constructive but absent of a breakthrough…wishful thinking perhaps.

An 11th meeting is scheduled for next month in Tokyo.

Despite a huge gap – "Mine! No Mine!" – hopes for a decision soon are on both sides…especially on Japan's side which may need the gas more than China does. When China has time on its side, it usually wins…and China is most always NOT in a hurry.

"The gas exploration dispute stems from the unsettled demarcation of the East China Sea where the exclusive economic zones claimed by the two countries overlap."

China started production in an area just west of the line that Japan believes divides the two countries' exclusive zones.

If it's not about the money, or the land, it's about the rights to something both want.

This kind of disagreement at a more inopportune time could be disastrous.

How do you think this kind of problem be solved?