1960 年代末期，海洋地質專家即已預測東海大陸礁層蘊藏著豐富的油氣資源，並且造成了周圍國家的震撼，臺灣、中國與日本競相投入海域的探勘活動。但是，後來為了避免國際紛爭，各方遂停止在東海探採石油。然而，隨著海底資源開發技術的發展、國際原油價格節節攀升，以及聯合國海洋法公約的生效，中、日雙方圍繞在東海油氣田的爭端再度爆發出來。由於中國開始在日本主張的「中間線」附近開採石油，造成日本的強烈反應，雙方衝突不斷升級，值得臺灣密切關注。深究中、日在東海發生爭端的根本原因..

In the late 1960s, marine geologists had predicted that the continental shelf in the East China Sea is rich in oil and gas. This finding shocked the surrounding regions of Taiwan, Japan, and China, leading to a fever of oil exploration. These countries then stopped the exploration to prevent further international disputes. However, as new seabed resources exploring technology is developed, rising price of crude oil, and the implementation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the conflict of the East China Sea oil and g..