Japan city to rename area of islands disputed with China

A local council in southern Japan voted  to rename an area including islands disputed with China and Taiwan.The row over the uninhabited East China Sea islets may add to recent tension caused by Japan’s criticisms of Beijing’s plan to impose a new national security law in Hong Kong.

Senkaku Islands

• The Senkaku Islands are a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea.
• They are located east of Mainland China, northeast of Taiwan, west of Okinawa Island, and north of the southwestern end of the Ryukyu Islands.
• They are also known as the Diaoyu Islands or Diaoyu Dao.
• The islands are the focus of a territorial dispute between Japan and China and between Japan and Taiwan.
• China claims the discovery and ownership of the islands from the 14th century, while Japan maintained ownership of the islands from 1895 until its surrender at the end of World War II.

Economic significance of disputed area

1. Oil and natural gas reserves
2. Located near major ship routes
3. Rich fishing area

What is China’s claim?

• China says that the islands have been part of its territory since ancient times, serving as important fishing grounds administered by the province of Taiwan.
• Taiwan was ceded to Japan in the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895, after the Sino-Japanese war.
• When Taiwan was returned in the Treaty of San Francisco, China says the islands should have been returned too.

UPSC