Tense relations between Japan and China risk being further inflamed by their competing claims to undersea natural gas and oil deposits.
But Japanese energy executives say the two sides should try what companies battling for ownership of natural resources often do: share.
"Standard oil-and-gas industry practice is to talk things over and determine the most efficient way to go about developing disputed fields," said Koichi Shimomura, a spokesman for Japan Petroleum Exploration Co. "We hope both sides can reach some agreement instead of adopting a confrontational, first-come, first-serve approach."