BEIJING (AFP): China denied yesterday that any dispute existed between itself and Indonesia over the South China Sea’s Natuna Island, but said it was willing to hold talks with Jakarta to settle demarcation.

There is no dispute between China and Indonesia on possession of the Natuna Islands,’ said foreign ministry spokesman Chen Jian when asked about reports of growing concerns in Jakarta over Chinese interest in a gas-rich zone near the archipelago.

“We’re willing to hold talks with the Indonesian side to settle demarcation of this area.”  Chen added, without elaborating.  China is one of the six nations which claims all or part of the Spratly Island in the South China Sea and its interpretation of that claim includes part of the large Indonesian maritime zone of Natuna, between Borneo and the Malaysian Peninsula.  United States oil giant Exxon signed a contract in November with the Indonesia state owned firm Pertamina to exploit a natural gas field, 250 kilometres northeast of Natuna, in a zone apparently claimed by China.

China has lodged no official protest over the deal.   Indonesia has sent a diplomatic note to Beijing expressing its condemn the moment it found out that the latest Chinese official map showed Natuna as within dotted line of its boundary.

 

1.      The denial of having no dispute between China and Indonesia by the China’s side is found in paragraph……

a)      1

b)      2

c)       3

d)      4

e)      5

 

2.      From the text we know that the Natuna islands are…….

a)      Rich in gas

b)      In China zone

c)      Only claimed by China

d)      Claimed by Indonesia

e)      Settled demarcation zone

 

3.      Indonesia has sent a diplomatic note to Beijing expressing its concern the moment….(paragraph 6).

The underlined word means……

a)something that is important to somebody

b)      something who did the negotiation

c) something that is expensive to buy

d)      something to be cared for

e)something to be shown off

 

4.      …..in the South China Sea and its interpretation of that claim.(paragraph 4).The underlined word refers to…..

a)      China

b)      Natuna

c)       China Sea

d)      Spratly Island

e)      South China Sea

 

5.      Which statement is not true according to the text?

a)      Natuna is claimed by China

b)      China denies that there is no dispute

c)       The dispute is about Natuna Island

d)      Chen Jian is the foreign Minister of China

e)      China and Indonesia are willing to talk about Natuna