Why in news?
Recently, a China Coast Guard ship formation passed through the disputed waters of the Senkaku Islands.
About Senkaku Islands
The Senkaku Islands are an uninhabited group of eight small islands and rocks in the East China Sea that are currently administered by Japan but also claimed by China (as the Diaoyu Islands) and Taiwan (as the Tiaoyutai Islands).
The dispute is a major source of tension in East Asia due to the islands' strategic location and potential natural resources.
Key Facts
- Location: East China Sea, located northeast of Taiwan and southwest of Okinawa, Japan.
- Administration: Japan has administered the islands since 1972, and views them as an inherent part of its territory. They are part of Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture.
- Claimants: Japan, China, and Taiwan all claim sovereignty.
- Status: The islands are uninhabited, but were home to Japanese residents running a dried bonito factory and other businesses before World War II.
- Significance: The surrounding waters contain rich fishing grounds and potential oil and natural gas reserves. They are also strategically important for regional maritime control and security.
Historical Claims
The dispute largely hinges on events in the late 19th and mid-20th centuries:
- Japan's Position: Japan claims it surveyed the islands in the late 19th century and found them to be terra nullius (land belonging to no one) before formally incorporating them in January 1895. After World War II, the islands were placed under US administration as part of the Nansei Shoto island chain and reverted to Japanese control in 1972 under the Okinawa Reversion Agreement.
- China's Position: China argues that historical records, some dating back to the Ming Dynasty (15th century), show the islands were part of Chinese territory and used as navigation markers and a coastal defense area. China contends that Japan seized the islands during its imperial expansion and that they should have been returned with Taiwan after the war under the terms of the Cairo and Potsdam Declarations.
- Taiwan's Position: Taiwan's claims largely align with China's, viewing the islands as part of Taiwan's Yilan County.
Current Situation and Geopolitics
The territorial dispute remains a flashpoint for regional security, involving the United States through its mutual defense treaty with Japan.
- US Stance: The US takes no position on the ultimate sovereignty of the islands but officially recognizes Japan's administration over them. Under Article 5 of the US-Japan security treaty, the US is obligated to defend the islands if they are attacked.
- Ongoing Tensions: China regularly sends Coast Guard vessels into the contiguous zone and territorial waters around the islands to assert its claims, leading to frequent standoffs with the Japan Coast Guard. These incidents have increased the risk of miscalculation or open conflict in the region.
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