China and Japan trade accusations of trespassing airspace over contested East China Sea islets
Revised Article:
Take a gander at the skies above the Senkaku Islands, a hotly contested patch of rocks smack dab in the middle of the East China Sea. On October 13, 2011, a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C Orion surveillance plane caught airtime over these bones of contention. [AP/YONHAP]
Now, let's dig into the ins and outs of this disagreement involving Japan, China, and Taiwan. Here's a lowdown:
** background**
It all goes back to the 19th century when Japan laid claim to the uninhabited isles in 1895. They declared these babies as terra nullius and incorporated them into Okinawa Prefecture. [1] Fast-forward to present times, China and Taiwan argue their historical ownership, claiming precedents dating back before the First Sino-Japanese War. [1][4] The PRC threw its doors wide open to these claims in 1992 with its Territorial Sea Law. [5]
** Key Moments**
The flame under this spat got lit in the '70s when exploratory drilling hinted at the presence of oil and gas reserves nearby. [1][3] Post-2008, China ramped up its military presence around these rocky islands, sending government vessels to wade into Japanese waters. [5] The dispute hit the boiling point in 2012 following Japan's purchase of three of the islands from private owners, triggering widespread protests in China. [1][4]
** Current Scenario**
Japan maintains control over the Senkaku Islands with the support of the U.S.-Japan Mutual Security Treaty. [1] On the diplomatic front, Japan and China continue to argue their respective stances with Japan rejecting any agreement to freeze the dispute, citing historical territory administration since 1895. [5] China, on the other hand, flat-out denies Japan's sovereignty, claiming these islands were grabbed during imperial expansion. [1][4]
** Strategic Importance**
These tiny specks of land are thought to be sitting on top of juicy hydrocarbon reserves and sport some fantastic fishing grounds. [1][3] On a larger scale, their proximity to critical shipping lanes adds a dash of intrigue, especially amid escalating U.S.-China tensions. [1][3]
Interestingly, South Korea has taken no significant part in this dispute, making it a three-horse race between Japan, China, and Taiwan.
- The current stood-off between Japan, China, and Taiwan over the Senkaku Islands, a disputed territory in the East China Sea, raises concerns about war-and-conflicts and politics in the region.
- Despite ongoing disputes, the Senkaku Islands, rich in potential hydrocarbon reserves and prime fishing grounds, remain a strategic focus for defense and diplomacy among the involved governments.
- Military tensions surrounding the Senkaku Islands have been heightened since China ramped up its defense presence in the region after 2008, sparking concerns about the stability of the broader Asian-Pacific landscape.
- The ASEAN region, as a collective of southeast Asian countries, has monitored the ongoing spat between Japan, China, and Taiwan over the Senkaku Islands with interest, considering its implications on regional political dynamics and general news.
- Negotiations regarding the Senkaku Islands dispute have so far yielded no major swap of land or territorial concessions, with both Japan and China steadfast in their respective positions on sovereignty claims dating back to the 19th century.
