The disputed area between eastern China and Japan's southern island chain of Okinawa is rich in gas deposits.

中国东部和日本南部冲绳列岛之间有争议的海域蕴藏着丰富的天然气资源。

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Last month, both nations agreed to the deployment of an Indonesian observer team to the disputed area, but have not agreed on conditions set by either country.

上个月，两个国家都同意了在争端领域部署印尼观察员，但是不同意只在一个国家部署的条件。

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The agreement gave almost 18,000 square kilometers of the disputed area to Maine.

VOA: special.2009.02.05

The situation became tense when gold was discovered in the disputed area.

VOA: special.2010.07.08

Both Canada and the state of Maine claimed the disputed area.

VOA: special.2009.02.05

However, the Tubbataha reefs lie within Philippine territory, and are not considered a disputed area.

BBC: Philippines 'discovers rare pangolins' on Chinese ship

However, the Tubbataha reef lies within the Philippine's territory, and is not considered a disputed area.

BBC: China boat 'runs aground' Philippine Unesco coral reef

Exchanges of fire in the disputed area are not uncommon but rarely result in fatalities.

BBC: Salman Khurshid: India 'not to rush' into Kashmir talks