Beijing slams Tokyo move on atoll

Japan's bid to make key reef exclusive economic zone criticized

Tokyo's latest attempt to upgrade the status of a Pacific atoll into an island has come in for flak, with China yesterday denouncing the move as a breach of international maritime law.

Japan's Kyodo news agency reported yesterday that Tokyo would allocate at least $7 million this year to build a port on what the Japanese call "Okinotori Island", in a bid to cement its right to explore resources surrounding the area.