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{{Short description|Islands disputed between Japan, China and Taiwan}}
{{redirect|Diaoyutai|the Chinese state guesthouse|]}}
{{Redirect|Diaoyutai|the Chinese state guesthouse|Diaoyutai State Guesthouse}}
The {{nihongo|'''Senkaku Islands'''|尖閣諸島|Senkaku Shotō}} are a group of disputed, uninhabited ]s currently administered by ], but also claimed by the ] (PRC) and the ] (ROC/]). In ], the islands are known as the '''Diaoyutai Islands''' ({{zh-tsp|t=釣魚台群島|s=钓鱼台群岛|p=Diàoyútái Qúndǎo}}). They are also known as the "Pinnacle Islands", a name given by British navigators, which is also the probable source for the Japanese name. The Chinese name literally means "Angling Platform Islands" or "Angling Islands". Their status has emerged as a major issue in ] and ].
<noinclude>{{Requested move notice|1=Diaoyu Islands|2=Talk:Senkaku Islands#Requested move 24 December 2024}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2011}}
{{Infobox islands
| disputed = yes
| name = Senkaku Islands
| plural = yes
| other_names = Diaoyu Islands / Diaoyutai Islands / Pinnacle Islands
| image_name = Diaoyutai senkaku.png
| image_size = 320px
| image_caption = Location of the islands (yellow rectangle and inset)
| image_map = Senkaku Diaoyu Tiaoyu Islands.png
| location = ]
| coordinates = {{Coord|25|44|42|N|123|29|06|E|region:XP_type:isle|display=inline,title}}
| total_islands = 5 + 3 rocks (reefs)
| major_islands = {{Plainlist|
* Uotsuri-shima / Diaoyu Dao
* Taishō-tō / Chiwei Yu
* Kuba-shima / Huangwei Yu
* Kita-Kojima / Bei Xiaodao
* Minami-Kojima / Nan Xiaodao
}}
| area_km2 = 7
| elevation_m = 383
| country = {{JAP}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/23/china-airspace-restrictions-japanese-senkaku |title=China imposes airspace restrictions over Japan-controlled Senkaku islands |access-date = December 3, 2013 |author=The Guardian |website=] |date=November 23, 2013 |quote=China imposes airspace restrictions over Japan-controlled Senkaku islands |author-link = The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.france24.com/en/20131126-us-air-force-flies-over-disputed-islands |title=US defies China to fly over disputed Senkaku islands |access-date=December 3, 2013 |author=France24 |date=November 27, 2013 |quote=The zone covers the Tokyo-controlled Senkaku islands |author-link=France24 |archive-date=December 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225074922/https://www.france24.com/en/20131126-us-air-force-flies-over-disputed-islands%20 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| country_admin_divisions_title = City
| country_admin_divisions = ], ]
| country1 = {{TWN}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mofa.gov.tw/Home/ListOnecolumn2/6e83b95d-6426-4bbc-8c19-074d9c540328 |script-title=zh:釣魚臺列嶼相關文獻 |publisher=] |language=zh |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024143042/http://www.mofa.gov.tw/Home/ListOnecolumn2/6e83b95d-6426-4bbc-8c19-074d9c540328 |archive-date=October 24, 2013 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://toucheng.e-land.gov.tw/cp.aspx?n=616B0FE61248A57D|script-title=zh:地理位置圖|language=zh-tw|access-date=19 October 2019|website={{lang|zh-tw|宜蘭縣頭城鎮公所}} Toucheng Township Office|quote={{lang|zh-tw|另轄兩小島(龜山島及龜卵嶼)及一群島(釣魚臺列嶼)。}}|archive-date=July 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707123213/https://toucheng.e-land.gov.tw/cp.aspx?n=616B0FE61248A57D|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://taiwandiaoyutaiislands.tw/CH/News.aspx |script-title=zh:我們的釣魚臺 |publisher=] |language=zh |access-date=May 24, 2014 |archive-date=January 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114001330/http://taiwandiaoyutaiislands.tw/CH/News.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| country1_admin_divisions_title = Township
| country1_admin_divisions = ], ]
| country2 = {{CHN}}<ref name="钓鱼岛白皮书">{{cite news |author=中华人民共和国国务院新闻办公室|script-title=zh:《钓鱼岛是中国的固有领土》白皮书 |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/2012-09/25/c_113202698.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927113700/http://news.xinhuanet.com/2012-09/25/c_113202698.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 27, 2012 |publisher=新华社 |date=2012-09-25 |quote=1871年......将钓鱼岛列入海防冲要,隶属台湾府噶玛兰厅(今台湾省宜兰县)管辖。 |language=zh}}</ref>
| country2_admin_divisions_title = County
| country2_admin_divisions = ], ]
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| title = Senkaku Islands
| s = 钓鱼岛及其附属岛屿
| t = 釣魚島及其附屬島嶼
| p = Diàoyúdǎo jí qí fùshǔ dǎoyǔ
| w = {{Tone superscript|Tiao4-yü2-tao3 chi2 ch'i2 fu4-shu3 tao3-yü3}}
| bpmf = ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄩˊ ㄉㄠˇ ㄐㄧˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄕㄨˇ ㄉㄠˇ ㄩˇ
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|d|iao|4|yu|2|d|ao|3|-|j|i|2|-|q|i|2|-|f|u|4|sh|u|3|-|d|ao|3|yu|3}}
| l = Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands
<!-- Diaoyutai -->| altname = Taiwanese name
| t2 = 釣魚臺列嶼
| s2 = 钓鱼台列屿
| w2 = {{Tone superscript|Tiao4-yü2-t'ai2 lieh4 yü3}}
| p2 = Diàoyútái liè yǔ
| bpmf2 = ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄩˊ ㄊㄞˊ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄩˇ
| mi2 = {{IPAc-cmn|d|iao|4|yu|2|t|ai|2|-|l|ie|4|-|yu|3}}
| l2 = Diaoyutai / Tiaoyutai Islands
<!-- Senkaku Islands -->
| shinjitai = 尖閣諸島
| hiragana = せんかくしょとう
| revhep = Senkaku-shotō
| kunrei = Senkaku-syotô
}}
The '''Senkaku Islands''',{{Explanatory footnote|{{langx|ja|尖閣諸島}}, {{transliteration|ja|Senkaku-shotō}}; variants: {{lang|ja|尖閣群島}}, {{transliteration|ja|Senkaku-guntō}};<ref>National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630045719/http://geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=-368031&fid=3261&c=japan |date=June 30, 2017 }}, retrieved September 20, 2010.</ref> and {{lang|ja|尖閣列島}}, {{transliteration|ja|Senkaku-rettō}}<ref>National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409191958/https://geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=-368032&fid=3261&c=japan |date=April 9, 2023 }}, retrieved September 20, 2010.</ref>}} known as the '''Diaoyu Islands'''{{Explanatory footnote|]: {{linktext|钓鱼|岛}}}} in ] and the '''Tiaoyutai Islands{{Explanatory footnote|]: {{linktext|釣魚臺|列嶼}}}}''' in ], are a group of uninhabited islands in the ], administered by ]. They were historically known in the ] as the '''Pinnacle Islands'''. The islands are located northeast of ], east of ], west of ], and north of the southwestern end of the ].


The islands are the focus of ] between Japan and China and between Japan and Taiwan.<ref>McDorman, Ted L. (2005). "Central Pacific and East Asian Maritime Boundaries" in {{Google books|RN0GnOcw0McC|''International Maritime Boundaries'', Vol. 5, pp. 3441.|page=3441}}</ref> 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 ]. The United States administered the islands as part of the ] from 1945 until 1972, when the islands returned to Japanese control under the ] between the United States and Japan.<ref>Lee, Seokwoo. (2002). {{Google books|MZGsi1ptLvoC|''Territorial Disputes Among Japan, China and Taiwan Concerning the Senkaku Islands'', pp. 10–13.|page=10}}</ref> The discovery of potential undersea oil reserves in 1968 in the area was a catalyst for further interest in the disputed islands.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MZGsi1ptLvoC&pg=PA6 |title=Territorial Disputes among Japan, China and Taiwan concerning the Senkaku Islands (Boundary & Territory Briefing Vol.3 No.7) |first=Seokwoo |last=Lee |publisher=IBRU |isbn=1897643500 |page=6 |quote=The question of the disputed Senkaku Islands remained relatively dormant throughout the 1950s and 1960s, probably because these small uninhabited islands held little interest for the three claimants. The Senkaku Islands issue was not raised until the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (hereinafter 'ECAFE') of the United Nations Economic and Social Council suggested the possible existence of large hydrocarbon deposit in the waters off the Senkaku Islands. ... This development prompted vehement statements and counter-statements among the claimants. |year=2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5_1y5fLm5eUC&q=senkaku%20oil&pg=PA140 |title=Toward a New Framework for Peaceful Settlement of China's Territorial and Boundary Disputes |first=Junwu |last=Pan |publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers |year=2009 |page=140 |isbn=978-9004174283 |quote=Obviously, primarily regional interests in oil and gas resources that may lie under the seas drive the two major disputes. The Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands issue did not re-surface until 1969 when the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East of the United Nations Economic and Social Council reported that the continental shelf of the East China "might contain one of the most prolific oil and gas reservoirs of the world, possibly comparing favourably with the Persian Gulf." Then both China and Japan had high expectations that there might be large hydrocarbon deposits in the waters off the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands. The Law of the Sea at that time emphasized the theory of natural prolongation in determining continental shelf jurisdiction. Ownership of the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands would permit the owner to a large area of the continental shelf that may have rich sources of gas and oil. Such a dispute is obviously related to the awakening interest by the world's states in developing offshore energy resources to meet the demand of their economies. |access-date=October 3, 2020 |archive-date=August 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827193601/https://books.google.com/books?id=5_1y5fLm5eUC&q=senkaku%20oil&pg=PA140#v=snippet&q=senkaku%20oil&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cvm9EzEcm3kC&q=senkaku%20oil&pg=PA129 |title=Japan's Development Aid to China, Volume 200: The Long-running Foreign Policy of Engagement |first=Tsukasa |last=Takamine |publisher=Routledge |year=2012 |isbn=978-0415352031 |quote=The islands had temporarily come under American control after the Second World War, but the sovereignty over the islands, was handed over to Japan in 1972 with the reversion of Okinawa.However, the PRC and ROC governments both made a territorial claim to the Senkaku Islands, soon after the United Nation Economic Commission issued in 1969 a report suggesting considerable reserve of submarine oil and gas resources around the islands. |page=129 |access-date=October 3, 2020 |archive-date=August 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827193601/https://books.google.com/books?id=cvm9EzEcm3kC&q=senkaku%20oil&pg=PA129 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4QJ9LPCTLRMC&q=senkaku+oil&pg=PA49 |title=Japan's Security Relations with China Since 1989: From Balancing to Bandwagoning? |first=Reinhard |last=Drifte |publisher=Routledge |year=2012 |isbn=978-1134406678 |quote=The dispute surfaced with the publication of a seismic survey report under the auspices of the UN Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECSFE) in 1968, which mentioned the possibility of huge oil and gas reserves in the area; this was confirmed by a Japanese report in 1969. Greg Austin mentions that Beijing started its claim to the Senkaku Islands for the first time in 1970, after Japanese government protested to the government in Taiwan about its allocation of oil concessions in the East China Sea, including the area of the Senkaku Islands. |page=49 |access-date=October 3, 2020 |archive-date=August 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827193647/https://books.google.com/books?id=4QJ9LPCTLRMC&q=senkaku+oil&pg=PA49#v=snippet&q=senkaku%20oil&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MZGsi1ptLvoC&pg=PA10 |title=Territorial Disputes among Japan, China and Taiwan concerning the Senkaku Islands (Boundary & Territory Briefing Vol.3 No.7) |first=Seokwoo |last=Lee |publisher=IBRU |isbn=1897643500 |pages=10–11 |quote=For a long time following the entry into force of the San Francisco Peace Treaty China/Taiwan raised no objection to the fact that the Senkaku Islands were included in the area placed under US administration in accordance with the provisions of Article of the treaty, and USCAP No. 27. In fact, neither China nor Taiwan had taken up the question of sovereignty over the islands until the latter half of 1970 when evidence relating to the existence of oil resources deposited in the East China Sea surfaced. All this clearly indicates that China/Taiwan had not regarded the Senkaku Islands as a part of Taiwan. Thus, for Japan, none of the alleged historical, geographical and geological arguments set forth by China/Taiwan are acceptable as valid under international law to substantiate China's territorial claim over the Senkaku Islands. |year=2002 |access-date=October 18, 2015 |archive-date=August 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827193712/https://books.google.com/books?id=MZGsi1ptLvoC&pg=PA10#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite the ] between China and Taiwan, both governments agree that the islands are part of Taiwan as part of ] in ]. Japan administers and controls the Senkaku islands as part of the city of ] in ]. It does not acknowledge the claims of China nor Taiwan, but it has not allowed the Ishigaki administration to develop the islands.
== Geography ==
]
]
* Total island ]: 7 ]
* ]: 0
* ]s: 25°58' - 25°41'45" N, 123°27'45" - 124°41'30" E, (around {{coor d|25.768912|N|123.527622|E|}})


As a result of the dispute, the public is largely barred from approaching the uninhabited islands, which are about a seven-hour boat ride from Ishigaki. Vessels from the ] pursue Chinese ships crossing the maritime boundary in what one visiting journalist described in 2012 as "an almost ]-style game of cat-and-mouse", and fishing and other civilian boats are prevented from getting too close to avoid a provocative incident.<ref name="Fackler">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/world/asia/islands-dispute-tests-resolve-of-china-and-japan.html |title=In Shark-Infested Waters, Resolve of Two Giants is Tested |last=Fackler |first=Martin |date=2012-09-22 |newspaper=] |language=en |access-date=2019-07-13 |archive-date=August 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827193602/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/world/asia/islands-dispute-tests-resolve-of-china-and-japan.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
The group is made up of five small ] islands:
:1. ] (魚釣島) or ] (釣魚島本島 "Angling Island" or 主島): area 4.319 km², highest elevation 383 m, {{coor|25_46_N_123_31_E_type:isle|25°46'N 123°31'E}}
:2. Kuba-jima (久場島) or Huangwei Yu (黃尾嶼 "Yellow Tail"): 1.08 km²
:3. ](大正島) or ] (赤尾嶼 "Red Tail"): 0.0609 km². 25°53'54"~25°54'06"N - 124°34'09"~124°33'50" E
:4. Kita Kojima or Beixiao Dao (北小島 "Northern Islet"): highest elevation 135 m
:5. Minami Kojima or Nanxiao Dao (南小島 "Southern Islet"): highest elevation 149 m


The Senkaku Islands are important nesting sites for seabirds, and are one of two remaining nesting sites in the world for the ], alongside ].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Albatrosses Residing on the Senkaku Islands (1979: Former Okinawa Development Agency) |url=https://www.spf.org/islandstudies/info_library/senkaku-islands-04-eco--04_eco007.html |access-date=2020-09-03 |website=Review of Island Studies |archive-date=August 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827193603/https://www.spf.org/islandstudies/info_library/senkaku-islands-04-eco--04_eco007.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
And three rocks :
:6. Da bei xiao dao (大北小島 "Great northern small island" ) or Okino Kitaiwa (沖ノ北岩 "Northern Rocks of the Open Sea")
:7. Da nan xiao dao (大南小島 "Great southern small island" ) or (沖ノ南岩 "Southern Rocks of the Open Sea")
:8. Fei lai dao (飛瀬島 "Flying Shoal" ) or Tobise (飛瀬 "Flying Shoal")


== Names ==
Japanese name literally derived from the Chinese name{{fact}}
The islands are referred to as the {{Nihongo|''Senkaku Islands''|{{linktext|尖|閣|諸|島}}|Senkaku-shotō|variants: {{lang|ja|尖閣群島}} ''Senkaku-guntō''<ref>National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630045719/http://geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=-368031&fid=3261&c=japan |date=June 30, 2017 }}, retrieved September 20, 2010.</ref> and {{lang|ja|尖閣列島}} ''Senkaku-rettō''<ref>National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409191958/https://geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=-368032&fid=3261&c=japan |date=April 9, 2023 }}, retrieved September 20, 2010.</ref>}} in Japanese. In mainland China, they are known as the ''Diaoyu Islands'' ({{lang-zh|s={{linktext|钓鱼|岛}}|p=Diàoyúdǎo}}) or more fully "Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands" ({{zh|s={{linktext|钓鱼|岛|及|其|附属|岛屿}}|p=Diàoyúdǎo jí qí fùshǔ dǎoyǔ}}),<ref name="c">{{cite web |date=2015-08-28 |title=Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Remarks on the Japanese Government Opening a Link about Diaoyu Dao on the Official Cabinet Website |url=https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/2535_665405/t1293468.shtml |access-date=2020-09-15 |work=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China |archive-date=August 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807043312/https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/2535_665405/t1293468.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> while in Taiwan they are called the ''Diaoyutai Islands'' or ''Tiaoyutai Islands''<ref>{{cite web |title=The ROC government reiterates its sovereignty over the Tiaoyutai Islands |url=https://www.mofa.gov.tw/en/News_Content.aspx?n=539A9A50A5F8AF9E&sms=37B41539382B84BA&s=BDA44D06D35803BE |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=] |quote=According to a report appearing in the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun on January 1, 2003, the Japanese government began leasing three uninhabited islands (Kita-kojima, Minami-kojima and Uotsurishima) out of the five islets that comprise the Tiaoyutai Islands (known as the "Senkaku Islands" in Japan) in October 2002 at the rate of 22 million Japanese yen annually. The ROC's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan to ascertain the current position of the Japanese government on this issue and to express the ROC's solemn position regarding its claim to sovereignty over the Tiaoyutai Islands. |archive-date=November 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105211813/https://www.mofa.gov.tw/en/News_Content.aspx?n=539A9A50A5F8AF9E&sms=37B41539382B84BA&s=BDA44D06D35803BE |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Jesse Johnson |date=27 July 2020 |title=China's 100-day push near Senkaku Islands comes at unsettling time for Sino-Japanese ties |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/07/27/national/china-japan-senkaku-islands/ |access-date=10 August 2020 |website=] |quote=There are few better examples that underscore Japan's complicated relationship with China than the uninhabited but strategically positioned Senkakus, which are also claimed by China, which calls them Diaoyu, as well as Taiwan, which calls them Tiaoyutai. |archive-date=July 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708063309/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/07/27/national/china-japan-senkaku-islands/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=] |url=https://archive.org/details/chinaseaamerican0000hint/ |title=The China Sea: The American Stake in its Future |date=1980 |publisher=National Strategy Information Center |isbn=0-87855-871-3 |page=, , , |quote=The other territorial dispute in the East China Sea is considerably more complicated and more serious. It relates to a group of eight small uninhabited islands known in China as the Tiaoyutai and in Japan as the Senkaku and claimed by Japan and both Chinas; they lie on the edge of the continental shelf about 120 miles northeast of Taiwan. |via=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2008 |title=Media Reaction: Cross-Strait Talks, Taiwan-Japan Dispute, U.S. Global Influence |url=https://archive.org/details/08AITTAIPEI845/ |publisher=] |via=] |quote=A separate "Liberty Times" column discussed the recent dispute between Taiwan and Japan over the Tiaoyutai Islands and urged the Ma administration to seek to form an equilateral triangular relationship with the United States, Japan and China, so that no side will feel threatened of will overpower the other.}}</ref> ({{zh|t={{linktext|釣魚臺|列嶼}}|p=Diàoyútái liè yǔ}}).<ref name="mofaROC">{{cite web |author=Ministry of Foreign Affairs Taiwan |title=the Republic of China's Sovereignty Claims over the Diaoyutai Islands and the East China Sea Peace Initiative |url=http://www.mofa.gov.tw/EnOfficial/Topics/TopicsArticleDetail/fd8c3459-b3ec-4ca6-9231-403f2920090a |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019152749/https://www.mofa.gov.tw/EnOfficial/Topics/TopicsArticleDetail/fd8c3459-b3ec-4ca6-9231-403f2920090a |archive-date=October 19, 2020 |access-date=November 24, 2013 |work=www.mofa.gov.tw}}</ref><ref name="Taipeitimes">{{cite web |date=August 17, 2013 |title=Diaoyutai tensions stoked by arrival of China coast guard |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2013/08/17/2003569884 |work=www.taipeitimes.com |access-date=November 28, 2013 |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116203056/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2013/08/17/2003569884 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ChinaPost">{{cite web |date=November 24, 2013 |title=China preparing for Diaoyutai conflict: expert |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/china/national-news/2013/11/24/394387/China-preparing.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125111651/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/china/national-news/2013/11/24/394387/China-preparing.htm |archive-date=25 January 2014 |work=www.chinapost.com.tw}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2013-09-05 |title=The Republic of China's Sovereignty Claims over the Diaoyutai Islands and the East China Sea Peace Initiative |url=https://www.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=C641B6979A7897C0&sms=60ECE8A8F0DB165D&s=0D384DDF96769D7A |access-date=2020-09-15 |work=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan (Taiwan) |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116203102/https://www.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=C641B6979A7897C0&sms=60ECE8A8F0DB165D&s=0D384DDF96769D7A |url-status=live }}</ref> In Western sources, the historical English name ''Pinnacle Islands'' is occasionally still used when neutrality among the competing national claims is desirable.<ref name="Lai208">{{harvnb|Lai|2013|p=208}} cites Hagstrom 2005; "The islands are also called 'Pinnacle Islands' for convenience and neutrality sake by Western scholars"</ref><ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624195821/https://digitalcommons.law.umaryland.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1151&context=mscas |date=June 24, 2023 }}, ''Occasional Papers/Reprints Series in Contemporary Asian Studies'', Nr 3 – 1999 (152), p.13</ref><ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708063312/https://businessmirror.com.ph/2018/02/19/whats-in-a-name-4/ |date=July 8, 2023 }}, '']'': "The disputed islands East China Sea are called the Senkaku Islands by Japan, Diaoyu Islands in China and the Diaoyutai Islands by the government of Taiwan. In the West, these rocks are called the Pinnacle Islands as a loose translation of the Japanese name."</ref><ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708124433/https://americandiplomacy.web.unc.edu/2007/09/japans-territorial-disputes/ |date=July 8, 2023 }}, ''American Diplomacy'': "The Chinese call them the Diaoyu Islands, and on foreign maps in the past they have been called the Pinnacle Islands."</ref>


In ] (northern Ryukyu), the islands are known as ''{{Nihongo|2=魚蒲葵島|3=ʔiyukubajima}}'',<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/47773506 |title=Okinawago jiten |date=2001-03-30 |publisher=Zaimushō Insatsukyoku |others=Kokuritsu Kokugo Kenkyūjo, 国立国語研究所 |isbn=4-17-149000-6 |location=Tōkyō |pages=549 |language=ja |oclc=47773506}}</ref> while their ] (southern Ryukyu) name is ''iigunkubajima''.
In Japan, the islands are considered part of the ]. They are 170 ] north of ], Japan; 170 km northeast of ], Taiwan; and 410 km west of ]. The PRC considers that the islands sit on the edge of the continental shelf of mainland Asia, and are separated from the ] by a sea trench, while Japan considers that the continental shelf stretches to the much deeper ], east to the Southwest Islands and that the islands and the Ryukyu Islands are on the same continental shelf.


Chinese records of these islands date back to as early as the 15th century when they were referred as ''Diaoyu'' in books such as ''Voyage with a Tail Wind'' ({{zh|t=順風相送|p=Shùnfēng Xiāngsòng}}) (1403) <ref>Title: Liang zhong hai dao zhen jing / .Imprint: Beijing : Zhonghua shu ju : Xin hua shu dian Beijing fa xing suo fa xing, 2000 reprint edition. Contents: Shun feng xiang song—Zhi nan zheng fa. (順風相送--指南正法). {{ISBN|7-101-02025-9}}. pp96 and {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707045318/http://bbs.home.news.cn/upfiles/04B5B77C.002C |date=July 7, 2011 }}. The full text is available at {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615044828/http://zh.wikisource.org/%E4%B8%A4%E7%A7%8D%E6%B5%B7%E9%81%93%E9%92%88%E7%BB%8F |date=June 15, 2011 }}.</ref> and ''Record of the Imperial Envoy's Visit to Ryūkyū'' ({{zh|t=使琉球錄|p=Shǐ Liúqiú Lù}}) (1534).{{cn|date=August 2024}} Adopted by the Chinese Imperial Map of the Ming Dynasty, the Chinese name for the island group (]) and the Japanese name for the main island (]) both mean "fishing".
== Territorial dispute ==
:''Note: China refers to both the ] (PRC) and the ] on ] (ROC), if unspecified.''


==History==
The islands are currently administrated by Japan as a part of ], ]. In ], it is a part of Taiwan province (Daxi Village (大溪里), ], ], ]).
]) drawn by ] in 1752.]]


=== Chinese claims === ===Early history===
Historically, the Chinese had used the uninhabited islands as navigational markers in making the voyage to the ] upon commencement of diplomatic missions to the kingdom, "resetting the compass at a particular isle in order to reach the next one".<ref name="ReferenceA">Suganuma, {{Google books|vDpEiKR2osoC|p. 49.|page=49-54}}</ref>
====Ming Dynasty claim====
China claims that the islands were within the ]'s sea-defense area and are a part of ]. According to the Chinese, the islands were first mentioned in literature in 1372 and were first documented by royal visitors travelling from China to the ], located in what is now ]'s ]. Their documentation states: "When crossing the sea, we could see black ocean current underneath. The guide said, after passing this black current, they will leave the boundary of China. At this stage, we can see a series of islands that cannot be seen on the return trip."


The first published description of the islands in Europe appears in a book imported by ] in 1796. His small library of Japanese books included {{Nihongo|'']''|三國通覧圖說|''An Illustrated Description of Three Countries''}} by ].<ref>WorldCat, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204210419/http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Sangoku+Ts%C5%ABran+Zusetsu&qt=results_page |date=February 4, 2016 }}; alternate ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006200028/http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Sankoku+Ts%C5%ABran+Zusetsu&qt=results_page |date=October 6, 2018 }}</ref> This text, which was published in Japan in 1785, described the ].<ref>Cullen, Louis M. (2003). {{Google books|ycY_85OInSoC|''A History of Japan, 1582–1941: Internal and External Worlds'', p. 137.|page=137}}</ref> Hayashi followed convention in giving the islands their Chinese names in his map in the text, where he coloured them in the same pink as China.<ref name="Economist-2012-12-empty-space">{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/news/christmas/21568696-behind-row-over-bunch-pacific-rocks-lies-sad-magical-history-okinawa-narrative |title=The Senkaku or Diaoyu Islands: Narrative of an empty space |newspaper=] |date=December 22, 2012 |issue=Christmas Specials 2012 |publisher=] |location=] |issn=0013-0613 |access-date=February 26, 2014 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226002234/http://www.economist.com/news/christmas/21568696-behind-row-over-bunch-pacific-rocks-lies-sad-magical-history-okinawa-narrative |archive-date=February 26, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
====Qing Dynasty claim====
From 1624 until 1662, Taiwan and its surrounding islands were controlled by the ] as a base for commerce. In 1662, the Dutch were driven out by ex-Ming Dynasty general ] (more popularly known as ]). Zheng Chenggong and his successors established the ] and controlled the area until 1683. That year, Zheng's grandson ] was defeated by ] forces led by Admiral ]. From then on, Qing Dynasty China gained effective control over ] and its surrounding islands, including the islands in dispute today.


In 1832, the ] supported the posthumous abridged publication of Titsingh's French translation.<ref>]. (1832). {{Google books|lsoNAAAAIAAJ|''San kokf tsou ran to sets, ou Aperçu général des trois royaumes'', pp. 169–180.|page=i}}</ref>
====Treaty of Shimonoseki and the Receding of China's territories====
After losing the ], ] China signed the ] on ], ]. This ] ceded Taiwan and its surrounding islands to Japan, although without explicitly mentioning the islands in dispute today. The formal position of China is that all the ] are null and void and thus the islands are still part of Taiwan province of China.


The name, "Pinnacle Isles" was first used by ], who charted them during his 1789–1791 voyage in the ''Argonaut''.<ref>"Pinnacle Rock in Latitude 29°40{{prime}} and Longitude 132° E. of London... This Navigation is no ways dangereous were you sure of your Latitude and to make Pinnicle Isle". James Colnett, ''The Journal ... aboard the Argonaut from April 26, 1789 to Nov. 3, 1791'', ed. with introd. and notes by F. W. Howay, Toronto, Champlain Society Vol. 26, 1940, p. 47.</ref> ] sailed past them in November 1797 during his voyage of discovery to the North Pacific in HMS ''Providence'', and referred to Diaoyu Island/Uotsuri Island as "Peaks Island".<ref>William Robert Broughton, ''William Robert Broughton's Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific, 1795–1798'', edited by Andrew David; with an introduction by Barry Gough, Ashgate for the Hakluyt Society, Farnham, England; Burlington, VT, 2010, p. 202.</ref> Reference was made to the islands in ]'s 1848 account of the voyages of HMS ''Sammarang''.<ref>Suganuma, Unryu. (2001). {{Google books|vDpEiKR2osoC|''Sovereign Rights and Territorial Space in Sino-Japanese Relations'', |pages=87, 89–90}}</ref> Captain Belcher remarked that "the names assigned in this region have been too hastily admitted."<ref>Belcher, Edward. (1848). {{Google books|jotKAAAAYAAJ|''Narrative of the Voyage of'' H.M.S. ''Samarang'', Vol. I, pp. 315.|page=315}}; Belcher, {{Google books|PiAEAAAAQAAJ|Vol. II, pp. 572–574.|page=572}}</ref> Belcher reported anchoring off Pinnacle Island in March 1845.<ref>Belcher, {{Google books|jotKAAAAYAAJ|Vol. I, |pages=316–318.}}; excerpt at p. 317, "On the 16th, we endeavoured to obtain observations on Tia-usu; a landing was effected, but the absence of sun prevented our obtaining satisfactory observations, and bad weather coming on hastened our departure. This group, comprehending hô-pîng-san (和平山, "Peace Island", ''Uotsuri-shima''), Pinnacle Rocks, and Tias-usu (''Kuba-shima''), form a triangle, of which the hypothenuse, or distance between Hoa-pin-san and Tia-usu, extends about fourteen miles, and that between Hoa-pinsan and the Southern Pinnacle, about two miles."</ref>
====Tokyo court ruling====
China also asserted that in 1944, the Tokyo court ruled that the islands were part of Taihoku Prefecture (] Prefecture), following a dispute between Okinawa Prefecture and Taihoku Prefecture. However, the assertion was solely based on a "claim" by the president of the fishermen's association of ] city in ], ]. The primary source of this paragraph can be found in the journal "Modern China Studies", Issue 1, 1997 (in ]). .


In the 1870s and 1880s, the English name Pinnacle Islands was used by the British navy for the rocks adjacent to the largest island ''Uotsuri-shima'' / ''Diaoyu Dao'' (then called {{Lang-zh|t=和平嶼|poj=hô-pîng-sū|labels=no|l=Peace Island in ]}}); ''Kuba-shima'' / ''Huangwei Yu'' (then called ''Ti-a-usu''); and ''Taishō-tō'' / ''Chiwei Yu''.<ref>Suganuma, {{Google books|vDpEiKR2osoC|p. 90.|page=90}}; Jarrad, Frederick W. (1873). {{Google books|LvoGAAAAQAAJ|''The China Sea Directory'', Vol. IV, pp. 141–142.|page=141}}</ref>
=== Japanese claims ===
====Formal incorporation====
Japan claims that after the ], the Japanese government conducted surveys of the islands beginning in 1885 confirming no evidence that the uninhabited islands had been under Chinese control, though this conflicts with the earlier Chinese claim of the islands during the ]. At the time of this survey, Japan did not formally declare a claim to the islands. Instead, it waited until ], ], during the middle of the ], to do this. Just three months prior to its military victory in the war and the signing of the ], Japan erected a marker on the islands to formally incorporate them as its territory. This decision was not made public until 1950, however. Four of the islands were subsequently borrowed and developed by the Koga family with the permission of the Japanese government.


A Japanese navy record issued in 1886 first started to identify the islets using equivalents of the Chinese and English terms employed by the British. The name "Senkaku Retto" is not found in any Japanese historical document before 1900 (the term "Senkaku Gunto" began being used in the late 19th century), and first appeared in print in a geography journal published in 1900. It was derived from a translation of the English name Pinnacle Islands into a Sinicized Japanese term "Sento Shoto" (as opposed to "Senkaku Retto", i.e., the term used by the Japanese today), which has the same meaning.<ref>Suganuma, {{Google books|vDpEiKR2osoC|p. 91.|page=91-4}}</ref>
====History of Ming====
Japanese scholars claim that neither China nor Okinawa had recognized sovereignty over the uninhabited islands. Therefore, they claim that Chinese documents only prove that Kumejima, the first inhabited island reached by the Chinese, belonged to Okinawa. Prof. Emeritus Kentaro Ashida (芦田健太郎) of Kobe University points out that the official history book of the Ming Dynasty compiled during the Qing Dynasty, called the '']'' (明史), describes Taiwan in the "Stories of Foreign Countries" (外国列伝). Thus, China did not control the Senkaku Islands or Taiwan. However, this point is arguably irrelevant because the Qing Dynasty gained control of Taiwan and its surrounding islands in 1683, which was 39 years after the fall of the ].


The collective use of the name "Diaoyutai" to denote the entire group began with the advent of the controversy in the 1970s.<ref>Koo, Min Gyo (2009). {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708063314/https://books.google.com/books?id=8Ac9hLAES18C&q=advent&pg=PA103 |date=July 8, 2023 }} citing Park (1973) "Oil under Troubled Waters: The Northeast Asia Seabed Controversy", 14 HILJ ('']'') 212, 248–249; also Park, Choon-Ho (1972). ''Continental Shelf Issues in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea''. Kingston, Rhode Island: Law of the Sea Institute, pp. 1–64.</ref>
====Beiyang warlord admission====
In a testimonial in 1920, a diplomat from the Chinese ] warlord government admitted that the islands belonged to the Yaeyama District of Okinawa prefecture. Taiwan and its surrounding islands were ceded to Japan in 1895 in the ]. However, China argues that Taiwan and its surrounding islands were returned to Chinese sovereignty after the World War II in 1945.


===Control of the islands by Japan and the US===
==== United States occupation ====
]
Japan claims that after World War II, the islands came under the United States occupation of Okinawa. During this period, the United States and the Ryukyu Government administered the islands and the US Navy even used Kuba-jima and Taisho-jima as maneuver areas. In 1972, sovereignty over Okinawa, and arguably the surrounding islands, was handed back to Japan.
]
]
As the uninhabited islets were historically used as maritime navigational markers, they were never subjected to administrative control other than the recording of the geographical positions on maps, descriptions in official records of Chinese missions to the Ryukyu Kingdom, etc.<ref name="ReferenceA" />


The Japanese central government incorporated the islands into Okinawa Prefecture in January 1895 while still fighting China in the ].<ref name="Economist-2012-12-empty-space" /> Around 1900, Japanese entrepreneur {{Nihongo|Koga Tatsushirō|古賀 辰四郎}} constructed a ] fish processing plant on the islands, employing over 200 workers. The business failed around 1940 and the islands have remained deserted ever since.<ref name="search.japantimes.co.jp" /> In the 1970s, Koga Tatsushirō's son Zenji Koga and Zenji's wife Hanako sold four islets to the Kurihara family of Saitama Prefecture. Kunioki Kurihara<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19540469 |title=BBC News – Japan confirms disputed islands purchase plan |work=bbc.co.uk |year=2012 |quote=Kunioki Kurihara |access-date=September 10, 2012 |archive-date=September 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910195752/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19540469 |url-status=live }}</ref> owned Uotsuri, Kita-Kojima, and Minami-Kojima. Kunioki's sister owned Kuba.<ref name="japantimes.co.jp">Ito, Masami, "", '']'', May 18, 2012, pp. 1–2</ref>
Japanese scholars point out that it would not have been difficult for the Republic of China (ROC) to occupy these islands in 1945, because the ROC had already occupied Taiwan and the surrounding islands two months before the US military occupation was extended to the Yaeyama Islands. Thus, they claim that this proves the ROC's lack of willingness to assume authority over the islands. They also point to official Chinese publications that show the islands as part of Okinawa.


The islands came under US government occupation in 1945 after the surrender of Japan ended World War II.<ref name="search.japantimes.co.jp">Kaneko, Maya, (]) " {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20121227220804/http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20101208f2.html |date=December 27, 2012 }}", '']'', December 8, 2010, p. 3.</ref> In 1969, the ] (ECAFE) identified potential oil and gas reserves in the vicinity of the Senkaku Islands.<ref name="GlobalSec">{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/senkaku.htm |publisher=Globalsecurity.org |title=Senkaku/Diaoyutai Islands |access-date=May 25, 2005 |archive-date=July 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705004128/https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/senkaku.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1971, the Okinawa Reversion Treaty passed the U.S. Senate, returning the islands to Japanese control in 1972.<ref name="Senate">Finney, John W. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027042715/https://www.nytimes.com/1971/11/11/archives/senate-endorses-okinawa-treaty-votes-84-to-6-for-islands-return-to.html |date=October 27, 2018 }}, ''The New York Times''. November 11, 1971.</ref> Also in 1972, the Republic of China government and People's Republic of China government officially began to declare ownership of the islands.<ref name="Senkaku purchase bid made official">], " {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918062938/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120911a3.html |date=September 18, 2012 }}", '']'', September 11, 2012, p. 2</ref>
] scholars reject Japan's claim, stating that the ROC government maintains sovereignty over the islands. They assert that when US forces were stationed on Taiwan during the Cold War, military maneuvers were periodically held which required the use of the islands as an aerial bombing target, and the US military applied each time to the ROC government, instead of to Japanese authorities, for authorization.


Since 1972, when the islands reverted to Japanese government control, the government of Ishigaki has been given civic authority over the territory. The Japanese central government, however, has prohibited Ishigaki from surveying or developing the islands.<ref name="search.japantimes.co.jp" /><ref>Ito, Masami, " {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519185138/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120518f1.html |date=May 19, 2012 }}", '']'', May 18, 2012, p. 1</ref>
Taiwanese sources also argue that the 1954 ROC-US Mutual Defense Treaty contains wording implying that the ROC controlled the islands. The ROC government and the US later agreed to have US forces patrol the area several miles north of the island of Taiwan. Thus, the ROC had agreed to have US forces patrol the area around the islands.


In 1978, a Japanese political group constructed the first lighthouse on Uotsuri island and grazed two goats. Goats have since proliferated and affected the island's vegetation.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705092723/https://megalodon.jp/2020-0705-1315-16/https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp:443/article/hozen/8/1/8_KJ00003259290/_pdf |date=July 5, 2020 }}, ''Japanese Journal of Conservation Ecology 8'', p.90. Yasushi Yokohata, Laboratory of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Education, Toyama University. 2003.</ref>
=== Beginning of the dispute ===
A survey in 1968 found potential oil fields in the ], drawing attention to the islands. The PRC and ROC governments subsequently pressed their claims of sovereignty over them. The ROC officially claimed the islands for the first time on ], ], followed by the PRC on ]. Japan responded by counter-claiming the islands.


In 1979 an official delegation from the Japanese government composed of 50 academics, government officials from the Foreign and Transport ministries, officials from the now-defunct Okinawa Development Agency, and Hiroyuki Kurihara, visited the islands and camped on Uotsuri for about four weeks. The delegation surveyed the local ecosystem, finding ] and sheep, studied the local marine life, and examined whether the islands would support human habitation.<ref name="japantimes.co.jp" />
===Recent developments===


In 1988, a Japanese political group reconstructed a lighthouse on Uotsuri Island.<ref name = "jcg2005"> Japan Coast Guard Annual Report 2005</ref>
*1988: The ] set up a lighthouse on the main island.

*], ]: The Japan Youth Association builds a 5-m high, solar-powered, aluminum lighthouse on another island.
In 2005, a Japanese fisherman who owned a lighthouse at Uotsuri Island expressed his intention to relinquish the ownership of the lighthouse, and the lighthouse became a national property pursuant to the provisions of the Civil Code of Japan. Since then, the Japan Coast Guard has maintained and managed the Uotsuri lighthouse.<ref name = "jcg2005"/>
*], ]: a US State Department spokesman referred to the US's neutral position on the Senkaku Islands issue.

*], ]: ] (陳毓祥), a ] protester, drowns while trying to swim to the main island with several companions.
From 2002 to 2012, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications paid the Kurihara family ¥25&nbsp;million a year to rent Uotsuri, Minami-Kojima and Kita-Kojima. Japan's Ministry of Defense rents Kuba island for an undisclosed amount. Kuba is used by the U.S. military as a practice aircraft bombing range. Japan's central government completely owns Taisho island.<ref name="japantimes.co.jp" /><ref>Hongo, Jun, " {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101154046/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120419a4.html |date=November 1, 2012 }}", '']'', April 19, 2012, p. 2.</ref>
*], ]: Protesters plant the flags of the ] and the ] on the main island, but they were later removed by the Japanese authorities.

* ], ]: US Ambassador to Japan Thomas S. Foley said "we are not, as far as I understand, taking a specific position in the dispute.... we do not assume that there will be any reason to engage the security treaty in any immediate sense."
The reaction of the ] to the September ] was seen by former Prime Minister ] as "a very foolish move" and "frighteningly naive".<ref name="abe10t">{{cite news |last1=Abe |first1=Shinzo |title=Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe on U.S.-Japanese Relations |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.hudson.org/files/publications/AbeEventTranscript.pdf |issue=The Capital Hilton Washington, DC |publisher=Hudson Institute |date=15 October 2010 |access-date=April 20, 2023 |archive-date=December 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206140708/https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.hudson.org/files/publications/AbeEventTranscript.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="abe10v">{{cite news |last1=Abe |first1=Shinzo |title=U.S.-Japan Relations |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?296035-1/us-japan-relations |agency=C-SPAN |publisher=National Cable Satellite Corporation |date=15 October 2010 |access-date=April 20, 2023 |archive-date=August 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827193603/https://www.c-span.org/video/?296035-1/us-japan-relations |url-status=live }}</ref>
*April ]: The Japanese government leased Uotsuri and other islands from the private owners.

*], ]: A group of Chinese activists from the PRC planned to stay on the Islands for three days. The seven people who landed on the islands were arrested by Japanese authorities for illegal entry. The Japanese Foreign Ministry forwarded a complaint to the PRC government, but the PRC in turn demanded the release of the activists. They were then sent to Japan and deported from there. Japan subsequently banned anybody from landing on the islands without prior permission.
On December 17, 2010, the city of ] designated January 14 as "Pioneering Day" to commemorate Japan's 1895 incorporation of the Senkaku Islands. China condemned Ishigaki's actions.<ref>], " {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120720181921/http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20101218x1.html |date=July 20, 2012 }}", '']'', December 19, 2010, p. 1. Retrieved January 29, 2011.</ref>
*], ]: Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesman at the US State Deparment said "The U.S. does not take a position on the question of the ultimate sovereignty of the Senkaku Diaoyu Islands."

*February ]: Japan planned to take ownership of a privately-owned ] on Uotsuri, after it was offered to them by the owner, a fisherman living on ]. The lighthouse is expected to be managed by the ].
In May 2012, both the Tokyo Metropolitan and Japanese central governments announced plans to negotiate purchase of Uotsuri, Kita-Kojima, and Minami-Kojima from the Kurihara family,<ref name="japantimes.co.jp" /> and on September 11, 2012, the Japanese government nationalized its control over Minami-kojima, Kita-kojima, and Uotsuri islands by purchasing them from the Kurihara family for ¥2.05&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/07/world/asia/japan-agrees-to-buy-islands-at-center-of-dispute-with-china.html |title=Japan Said to Have Tentative Deal to Buy 3 Disputed Islands from Private Owners |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 6, 2012 |last1=Fackler |first1=Martin |access-date=February 12, 2017 |archive-date=July 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705133951/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/07/world/asia/japan-agrees-to-buy-islands-at-center-of-dispute-with-china.html |url-status=live }}</ref> China's Foreign Ministry objected saying Beijing would not "sit back and watch its territorial sovereignty violated."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/japan-says-it-will-purchase-disputed-islands-from-private-owner-in-step-likely-to-anger-china/2012/09/10/75b0ad1a-fb2e-11e1-98c6-ec0a0a93f8eb_story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912084602/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/japan-says-it-will-purchase-disputed-islands-from-private-owner-in-step-likely-to-anger-china/2012/09/10/75b0ad1a-fb2e-11e1-98c6-ec0a0a93f8eb_story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 12, 2012 |title=Japan says it will purchase disputed islands from private owner, angering China |newspaper=Washington Post |agency=AP |date=September 10, 2012|access-date=September 10, 2012}}</ref>
*]: The ROC dispatched a ] ] into disputed waters (but did not go as far as the islands) after Taiwanese fishing vessels were harassed by Japanese patrol boats. The frigate, which was carrying Legislative Yuan President ] and ROC Defense Minister ], was not challenged and returned to Taiwan without incident. Fisheries talks between Taipei and Tokyo were held in July, but did not cover sovereignty issues.

*], ]: ] reported the U.S. Ambassador to Japan, ] presented that he considered "the Islands as territory of Japan" in his talk in Tokyo.<ref>Kyodo News, March 17, 2006 (Japanese)</ref>
In 2014, Japan constructed a lighthouse and wharf featuring Japanese flag insignia on the islets.<ref>], " {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116221643/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/03/02/national/politics-diplomacy/taiwan-activists-threaten-to-land-on-senkakus-if-japan-doesnt-remove-facilities/#.VPWSFY0cQ5s |date=November 16, 2022 }}", '']'', 2 March 2015</ref>
*], ]: ] candidate ] raised the Senkaku Islands controversy during a debate with incumbent ] sponsored by the ]{{fact}}

{{CurrentParagraph}}
==Geography==
*], ]: A group of activists set off from ] to the Senkaku Islands, in order to protest against Japan's claim of sovereignty.<ref>Mainichi Daily News, October 22, 2006 (English)
]
</ref>
]
::Updated news can be found here.

The island group are known to consist of five uninhabited islets and three barren rocks.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-11341139 |title=How uninhabited islands soured China-Japan ties |work=BBC News |date=September 17, 2010 |access-date=June 20, 2018 |archive-date=November 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108101023/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-11341139 |url-status=live }}</ref> China has identified and named as many as 71 islets that belong to this group after the Japanese Cabinet released names of 39 uninhabited islands.<ref></ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2012/03/04/333537/China-releases.htm |title=China releases official names of disputed islands |access-date=December 16, 2014 |archive-date=June 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629090308/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2012/03/04/333537/china-releases.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

These minor features in the East China Sea are located approximately 120 nautical miles northeast of Taiwan, 200 nautical miles east of the Chinese mainland and 200 nautical miles southwest of the Japanese island of Okinawa.<ref>UC Berkeley: ]; retrieved November 15, 2010.</ref>

According to one visitor, Uotsuri-shima, the largest of the islands, consists of a pair of rocky gray mountains with steep, boulder-strewn slopes rising almost straight from the water's edge. Other, nearby islands were described as large rocks covered by low vegetation.<ref name="Fackler" />

In ascending order of distances, the island cluster is located:

*{{convert|140|km|nmi mi|abbr=on|lk=out}} east of ], Republic of China (Taiwan)<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406100429/http://www.acap.aq/ |date=April 6, 2011 }}, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706074909/http://data.acap.aq/breeding_site.cfm?bs_id=2499 |date=July 6, 2011 }}</ref>
*{{convert|170|km|nmi mi|abbr=on}} north of ], Japan
*{{convert|186|km|nmi mi|abbr=on}} northeast of ], Republic of China (Taiwan)
*{{convert|410|km|nmi mi|abbr=on}} west of ], Japan

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Islands in the group
|-
!No.!!Japanese name<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/senkaku/pdfs/senkaku_pamphlet.pdf |title=The Senkaku Islands |page=2 |website=] |date=March 2014|access-date=20 October 2019 |quote=Kuba Island Taisho Island Okinokitaiwa Island Uotsuri Island Okinominamiiwa Island Tobise Island Kitakojima Island Minamikojima Island}}</ref>!!Republic of China name<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.land.moi.gov.tw/ngis/chhtml/main.asp?area=GB02&type=byArea|script-title=zh:宜蘭縣土地段名代碼表|publisher=]|date=31 October 2017|access-date=20 October 2019|language=zh-tw|quote={{lang|zh-tw|地政事務所名稱(代碼) 宜蘭(GB) 鄉鎮市區名稱(代碼) 頭城鎮(02){...}段 小段 代碼 備註{...}釣魚台 0568 赤尾嶼 0569 黃尾嶼 0570 北小島 0571{...}南小島 0572}}}}</ref><ref name="taiwan">{{cite web|url=https://www.moi.gov.tw/files/site_stuff/321/2/year/y05-19.ods|script-title=zh:05-19 臺灣島嶼面積|trans-title=Location and Area of Islands in Taiwan|language=zh-tw,en|access-date=20 October 2019|website=]|quote=縣市別 Locality 島嶼名稱 位置 Location 面積(平方公里) (1) 經度 緯度 Name of Islands Longitude Latitude Area (Km<sup>2</sup>){...}宜蘭縣 Yilan County{...}釣魚臺 Diaoyutai 123°32{{prime}}48〞~123°30{{prime}}27〞 25°45{{prime}}26〞~25°46{{prime}}31〞 4.3838 黃尾嶼 Huangwei Isle 123°41{{prime}}56〞~123°41{{prime}}08〞 25°55{{prime}}45〞~25°56{{prime}}21〞 0.9091 赤尾嶼 Chiwei Isle 124°34{{prime}}09〞~124°33{{prime}}50〞 25°53{{prime}}54〞~25°54{{prime}}06〞 0.0609 北小島 Beixiao Island 123°35{{prime}}48〞~123°35{{prime}}15〞 25°44{{prime}}45〞~25°45{{prime}}21〞 0.3267 南小島 Nanxiao Island 123°36{{prime}}29〞~123°35{{prime}}36〞 25°44{{prime}}25〞~25°44{{prime}}47〞 0.4592 沖北岩 Chongbeiyan 123°35{{prime}}44〞~123°35{{prime}}26〞 25°48{{prime}}01〞~25°48{{prime}}10〞 0.0183 沖南岩 Chongnanyan 123°37{{prime}}12〞~123°37{{prime}}05〞 25°46{{prime}}31〞~25°46{{prime}}35〞 0.0048 飛瀨 Feilai 123°33{{prime}}39〞~123°33{{prime}}32〞 25°45{{prime}}23〞~25°45{{prime}}27〞 0.0008}}</ref>!!China (PRC) name<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diaoyudao.org.cn/en/node_7219352.htm|title=Geographic Location|website=Diaoyu Dao: The Inherent Territory of China|quote=Diaoyu Dao and its Affiliated Islands{...}Diaoyu Dao{...}Huangwei Yu{...}Chiwei Yu{...}Beixiao Dao{...}Nanxiao Dao{...}Bei Yu{...}Nan Yu{...}Fei Yu{...} }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.diaoyudao.org.cn/node_7217571.htm|script-title=zh:自然环境 |language=zh-hans |website={{lang|zh-hans|钓鱼岛是中国的固有领土}}|quote=钓鱼岛及其附属岛屿概况{...}钓鱼岛{...}黄尾屿{...}赤尾屿{...}北小岛{...}南小岛{...}北屿{...}南屿{...}飞屿{...} }}</ref>!! Coordinates!!Area (km<sup>2</sup>)<ref name="taiwan" />!! Highest elevation (m)
!Images
|-
|1||Uotsuri Island ({{Lang|ja|魚釣島}})<ref>] (GSI), {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113221947/http://watchizu.gsi.go.jp/watchizu.html?latitude=25.7416666666667&longitude=123.466666666667 |date=November 13, 2012 }}.</ref>||{{linktext|釣魚臺}}<ref>{{cite book|script-title=zh:臺灣歷史地圖 增訂版 |trans-title=Taiwan Historical Maps, Expanded and Revised Edition|date=February 2018|language=zh-tw|publisher=]|isbn=978-986-05-5274-4|page=156|location=]|quote={{lang|zh-tw|臺海軍事危機地圖1949-1958年{...}釣魚臺{...}地圖繪製:黃清琦}}}} (In the map labeled 臺海軍事危機地圖1949-1958年, the ] is colored light green, the PRC (China) is colored red and the Ryukyu Islands are colored pink. The area labeled 釣魚臺 is colored light green. The map was created by Ching-Chi Huang.)</ref> / {{linktext|釣魚台}} Diaoyutai<br />]: Tiò-hî-tâi<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twblg.dict.edu.tw/holodict_new/result_detail.jsp?n_no=35397&curpage=1&sample=%E9%87%A3%E9%AD%9A&radiobutton=1&querytarget=1&limit=20&pagenum=1&rowcount=3|trans-title=]|script-title=zh:臺灣閩南語常用詞辭典|access-date=27 October 2019|language=zh-nan,zh-tw|quote=詞目 釣魚台 音讀 Tiò-hî-tâi 釋義 島嶼(附錄-地名-臺灣縣市行政區名)|archive-date=August 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807055628/https://twblg.dict.edu.tw/holodict_new/result_detail.jsp?n_no=35397&curpage=1&sample=%E9%87%A3%E9%AD%9A&radiobutton=1&querytarget=1&limit=20&pagenum=1&rowcount=3|url-status=live}}</ref>||Diaoyu Dao ({{linktext|钓鱼岛}}/{{linktext|釣魚島}})||{{Coord|25|44|36|N|123|28|33|E|type:isle}}||4.32||383
|]
|-
|2||Taisho Island ({{Lang|ja|大正島}})<ref>GSI, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113031823/http://watchizu.gsi.go.jp/watchizu.html?latitude=25.9291666666667&longitude=124.552083333333 |date=November 13, 2012 }}.</ref>|| 赤尾嶼 Chiwei Isle ||Chiwei Yu ({{lang|zh|赤尾屿}}/赤尾嶼)||{{Coord|25|55|21|N|124|33|31|E|type:isle}}||0.0609||75
|]
|-
|3||Kuba Island ({{Lang|ja|久場島}})<ref>GSI, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114105227/http://watchizu.gsi.go.jp/watchizu.html?latitude=25.9347222222222&longitude=123.677083333333 |date=November 14, 2012 }}.</ref>|| 黃尾嶼 Huangwei Isle ||Huangwei Yu ({{lang|zh|黄尾屿}}/黄尾嶼)||{{Coord|25|55|26|N|123|40|55|E|type:isle}}||1.08||117
|]
|-
|4||Kitakojima Island ({{Lang|ja|北小島}})<ref>Google Maps, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827193604/https://www.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode&q=japan+senkaku+islands&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=25.761936,35.947266&ie=UTF8&hq&hnear=Japan&ll=25.728236,123.546324&spn=0.028532,0.035105&z=14 |date=August 27, 2024 }}; GSI, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114083619/http://watchizu.gsi.go.jp/watchizu.html?latitude=25.7333333333333&longitude=123.539583333333 |date=November 14, 2012 }}.</ref>|| 北小島 Beixiao Island ||Beixiao Dao ({{lang|zh|北小岛}}/北小島)||{{Coord|25|43|47|N|123|32|29|E|type:isle}}||0.3267||135
| rowspan="2" |]
|-
|5||Minamikojima Island ({{Lang|ja|南小島}})<ref>Google Maps, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827193604/https://www.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode&q=japan+senkaku+islands&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=25.761936,35.947266&ie=UTF8&hq&hnear=Japan&ll=25.728236,123.546324&spn=0.028532,0.035105&z=14 |date=August 27, 2024 }}</ref>|| 南小島 Nanxiao Island ||Nanxiao Dao ({{lang|zh|南小岛}}/南小島)||{{Coord|25|43|25|N|123|33|00|E|type:isle}}||0.4592||149
|-
|6||Okinokitaiwa Island ({{Lang|ja|沖ノ北岩}})<ref>GSI, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114012409/http://watchizu.gsi.go.jp/watchizu.html?latitude=25.7819444444444&longitude=123.535416666667 |date=November 14, 2012 }}.</ref>|| 沖北岩 Chongbeiyan ||Bei Yu (北屿/{{lang|zh|大北小岛}}/大北小島)<!-- redundant? ref to be deleted? <ref>GSI, </ref> -->||{{Coord|25|46|45|N|123|32|30|E|type:isle}}||0.0183|||nominal
|]
|-
|7||Okinominamiiwa Island ({{Lang|ja|沖ノ南岩}})<ref>GSI, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113202930/http://watchizu.gsi.go.jp/watchizu.html?latitude=25.7569444444444&longitude=123.572916666667 |date=November 13, 2012 }}.</ref>|| 沖南岩 Chongnanyan ||Nan Yu (南屿/{{lang|zh|大南小岛}}/大南小島/南岩)<!-- redundant? ref to be deleted?<ref>GSI, </ref> -->||{{Coord|25|45|19|N|123|34|01|E|type:isle}}||0.0048|||nominal
|]
|-
|8||Tobise Island ({{Lang|ja|飛瀬}})<ref>GSI, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114100733/http://watchizu.gsi.go.jp/watchizu.html?b=254408.0&l=1233021.0 |date=November 14, 2012 }}.</ref><!-- redundant? alternate name to be deleted? or<br /> {{Nihongo|Tobishou|飛礁|(past name)}}-->|| 飛瀨 Feilai ||Fei Yu (飞屿/{{lang|zh|飞礁岩}}/飛礁岩)||{{Coord|25|44|08|N|123|30|22|E|type:isle}}||0.0008|||nominal
|]
|}
]

The depth of the surrounding waters of the continental shelf is approximately {{convert|100|-|150|m}} except for the ] on the south.<ref>Ji, Guoxing. (1995). {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806132625/http://escholarship.org/uc/item/7rq2b069 |date=August 6, 2012 }}; Sibuet, Jean-Claude et al. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613062858/http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1987JGR....9214041S |date=June 13, 2015 }}, ''Journal of Geophysical Research'', Vol. 92, Issue B13, pp. 14041-14063.</ref> The shelf is shallow enough that the western islands were likely connected to the mainland during the ].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Ota, Hidetoshi Sakaguchi, Noriaki Ikehara, Sadao Hikida, Tsutomu |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/5094347.pdf |title=The Herpetofauna of the Senkaku Group, Ryukyu Archipelago |date=2008-06-18 |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |oclc=652309468 |access-date=September 2, 2020 |archive-date=November 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128144511/https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/5094347.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Geology ===
] in 1900.]]
Uotsuri, Kitakojima, Minamikojima and surrounding islets are ] in origin, predominantly consisting of probably ] aged ] and sandstone-], with subordinate conglomerate, ] seams up to {{Convert|10|cm|in}} thick, and rare ] beds. The sedimentary strata have around {{Convert|300|m|ft}} of exposed thickness at Uotsuri, and have SW-NE, EW and NW-SE ], with a general inclination of a ] of less than 20 degrees towards the North.<ref>Matsumoto, Y., and Tsuji, K. (1973) : {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407183746/http://naosite.lb.nagasaki-u.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/10069/16488/1/kyoyoS14_00_05_t.pdf |date=April 7, 2016 }}. Bull. Fac. Liberal Arts, Nagasaki Univ. (Nat. Sci.), 14, 43–57 (in Japanese with English abstract).</ref> These strata are ] by sheets of Mio-] ] ] ], and are fringed by recent coral outcrops and surface ]. Kuba and Taisho are volcanic in origin, with Kuba comprising "] ], lava, ]s, ], limestone, and other rocky material" and Taisho is thought to be consist of "andesite, ] ], and tuffaceous sandstone".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Geology of the Senkaku Islands {{!}} Info Library|url=https://www.spf.org/islandstudies/info_library/senkaku-islands-02-geography--02_geo007.html|access-date=2020-09-02|website=Review of Island Studies|archive-date=January 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124231502/https://www.spf.org/islandstudies/info_library/senkaku-islands-02-geography--02_geo007.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Wildlife==
===Plants===
Permission for collecting herbs on three of the islands was recorded in an Imperial Chinese edict of 1893.<ref>Ji, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806132625/http://escholarship.org/uc/item/7rq2b069 |date=August 6, 2012 }}</ref>

Several floral surveys have been conducted on the Senkaku islands,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Surveys Between the end of World War II and 1970, Part 1 (1950, 1952, 1953, 1964: University of the Ryukyus) |url=https://www.spf.org/islandstudies/info_library/senkaku-islands-04-eco--04_eco003.html |access-date=2020-09-03 |website=Review of Island Studies |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608043607/https://www.spf.org/islandstudies/info_library/senkaku-islands-04-eco--04_eco003.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Surveys Between the end of World War II and 1970, Part 2 (1970, 1971: University of the Ryukyus) |url=https://www.spf.org/islandstudies/info_library/senkaku-islands-04-eco--04_eco004.html |access-date=2020-09-03 |website=Review of Island Studies |archive-date=August 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827193734/https://www.spf.org/islandstudies/info_library/senkaku-islands-04-eco--04_eco004.html |url-status=live }}</ref> with a 1980 survey finding that Uotsuri had 339 species of plants. These ecological communities varied based on altitude, with the communities being divided into windswept mountaintop vegetation with '']'' trees, with the understory including '']'' and ''],'' inclined high forest including the palms '']'' and ''],'' lowland windswept shrub forest including '']'' and ''],'' and seashore plants. Minamikojima was much less diverse, and dominated by grasses, while Kitakojima only had sparse plant life.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Surveys following Okinawa's reversion to Japan (1979: Okinawa Development Agency) |url=https://www.spf.org/islandstudies/info_library/senkaku-islands-04-eco--04_eco005.html |access-date=2020-09-03 |website=Review of Island Studies |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608060939/https://www.spf.org/islandstudies/info_library/senkaku-islands-04-eco--04_eco005.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Kuba has a forest near the crater, which includes a variety of flora including ''], ], ], ], ], ], and Livistona subglobosa,'' with forest floor plants being sparse.<ref name=":4" />

===Animals===
In an account by {{ill|Hisashi Kuroiwa|lt=Hisashi Kuroiwa|ja|黒岩恒|WD=}} in 1900, it was noted the large number of birds present on the islands, tens of thousands of ] and ] would flock on Uotsuri-shima, in the colder months, while hundreds of thousands of ] and ] would descend on Kitakojima and Minamikojima in the warmer months. He also described the air of Uotsuri as swarming with ] and ]es. In the same year, an account by {{ill|Miyajima Mikinosuke|lt=Miyajima Mikinosuke|ja|宮島幹之助|WD=}}, surveying Kuba Island, noted the presence of ], ], the ], and the ]. Mikinosuke also noted the large number of ]s and ]s on the island, with dozens of cats descending on the seabirds at night.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meiji Era surveys (1900: Kuroiwa and Miyajima) |url=https://www.spf.org/islandstudies/info_library/senkaku-islands-04-eco--04_eco001.html |access-date=2020-09-03 |website=Review of Island Studies |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608051404/https://www.spf.org/islandstudies/info_library/senkaku-islands-04-eco--04_eco001.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Kitakojima and Minamikojima are one of only two significant breeding places of the rare ] (''Phoebastria albatrus'').<ref name=":3" /> The islands have been recognised as an ] (IBA) by ].<ref name=bli>{{cite web |url=http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/senkaku-islands-iba-japan |title=Senkaku Islands |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2021 |website=BirdLife Data Zone |publisher=BirdLife International |access-date=1 February 2021 |archive-date=February 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203154047/http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/senkaku-islands-iba-japan |url-status=live }}</ref>

Uotsuri-shima, the largest island, has a number of endemic species such as the ] (''Mogera uchidai'') and Okinawa-kuro-oo-ari ant. Due to the introduction of domestic goats to the island in 1978, the Senkaku mole is now an endangered species.<ref>Zoological Society of London, , 2006; retrieved November 15, 2010.</ref> The ] (''Apodemus agrarius'') has also been noted to be present on Uotsuri. Surveys from 1900 to 1953 and noted the presence of the ], ]s and ] but these were not noted in more recent surveys.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

Six species of reptile have been recorded from the islands, including '']'' (Uotsuri, Minami) '']'' (Uotsuri, Minami), an indeterminate species of '']'' (Uotsuri) '']'' (Uotsuri) '']'' (Uotsuri) and '']'' (Uotsuri).<ref name=":0" />

Rich marine biodiversity adjacent to the islands has been recognized but poorly studied. Seemingly, varieties of ] and ] inhabit or migrate through the area, including tunas, sharks, ]s, critically endangered ]s, dolphins, ]s, ]s, and ]s.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://senkakushizen.iinaa.net/page111.html |title=尖閣諸島の自然 – 尖閣諸島の魚たち |access-date=April 6, 2016 |archive-date=August 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827193605/http://senkakushizen.iinaa.net/page111.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Sovereignty dispute==
{{Main|Senkaku Islands dispute}}
Territorial sovereignty over the islands and the ] around them are disputed between the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, and Japan.

The People's Republic and Republic of China claim that the islands have been a part of Chinese territory since at least 1534. China acknowledges that Japan took control of the islands in 1894–1895 during the ], through the signature of the ]. China asserts that the ] required that Japan relinquish control of all islands except for "the islands of Honshū, Hokkaidō, Kyūshū, Shikoku and such minor islands as we determine", and China states that this means control of the islands should pass to Republic of China, which was part of China at the time of the first Sino-Japanese War as well as of the San Francisco Peace Treaty. Both the People's Republic of China (PRC)<ref name="cihai">{{cite book|editor1=夏征农|editor2=陈至立|script-title=zh:辞海:第六版彩图本 |trans-title=] (Sixth Edition in Color) |date=September 2009|location=上海. ]|publisher=上海辞书出版社. ].|isbn=9787532628599| language=zh|pages=2193–2194|quote={{lang|zh-hans|'''台湾省'''{...}包括台湾岛、澎湖列岛和赤尾屿、绿岛、兰屿、彭佳屿、钓鱼岛等岛屿。{...}钓鱼岛 黃尾屿 赤尾屿}}}}</ref> and the Republic of China (ROC)<ref name="revisedtyt">{{cite web|url=http://dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/cgi-bin/cbdic/gsweb.cgi?o=dcbdic&searchid=Z00000045983|language=zh-tw|script-title=zh:教育部重編國語辭典修訂本|access-date=5 October 2019|quote=字詞 【釣魚臺】 注音 ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄩˊ ㄊㄞˊ 漢語拼音 diào yú tái 釋義{...} 2 群島名。位於臺灣東北,距基隆一百零二海里,為我國領土的一部分。屬宜蘭縣,分為釣魚臺本島、黃尾嶼、赤尾嶼三部分。雖日本主張擁有群島主權,但根據明代陳侃的《使琉球錄》,郭汝霖的《重編使琉球錄》,胡宗憲的《籌海圖編》,以及日本林子平的《三國通覽圖說》等文獻,此島應屬臺灣附屬島嶼。}}</ref> respectively separately claim sovereignty based on arguments that include the following points:

* Discovery and early recording in maps and travelogues.<ref name="gz.fjedu.gov.cn"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229055333/http://gz.fjedu.gov.cn/dili/ShowArticle.asp?ArticleID=18912 |date=February 29, 2012 }} (论钓鱼岛主权的归属), Fujian Education Department {{verify source |date=August 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted (]) by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite at ] cite #47 – please verify the cite's accuracy and remove this {verify source} template. ]}}</ref>
* The islands being China's frontier off-shore defence against ] (Japanese pirates) during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1911).
* A Chinese map of Asia, as well as the '']'' map<ref name="revisedtyt" /> compiled by Japanese cartographer ]<ref>" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430070530/https://www.worldcat.org/title/sangoku-tsuran-zusetsu/oclc/44014900%26referer%3Dbrief_results|date=April 30, 2019}}" {{verify source|date=August 2019|reason=This ref was deleted (]) by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite at ] cite #48 – please verify the cite's accuracy and remove this {verify source} template. ]}}</ref> in the 18th century,<ref name="gz.fjedu.gov.cn" /> showing the islands as a part of China.<ref name="gz.fjedu.gov.cn" /><ref name="english.people.com.cn"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920032657/http://english.people.com.cn/200305/25/eng20030525_117192.shtml |date=September 20, 2010 }}, ''People's Daily'', 25 May 2003. Retrieved 24 February 2007. {{verify source |date=August 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted (]) by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite at ] cite #49 – please verify the cite's accuracy and remove this {verify source} template. ]}}</ref>
* Japan taking control of the islands in 1895 at the same time as the ] was happening. Furthermore, correspondence between Foreign Minister Inoue and Interior Minister Yamagata in 1885, warned against the erection of national markers and developing their land to avoid Qing Dynasty suspicions.<ref name="gz.fjedu.gov.cn" /><ref name="english.people.com.cn" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/senkaku/qa_1010.html#qa08 |title=Q&A on the Senkaku Islands |work=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan |access-date=30 October 2014 |archive-date=December 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101209063711/http://www.mofa.go.jp//region//asia-paci//senkaku//qa_1010.html#qa08 |url-status=live }} {{verify source |date=August 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted (]) by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite at ] cite #50 – please verify the cite's accuracy and remove this {verify source} template. ]}}</ref>
* The ] stating that "Japanese sovereignty shall be limited to the islands of Honshū, Hokkaidō, Kyūshū, Shikoku and such minor islands as we determine", and "we" referred to the victors of the Second World War who met at ] and Japan's acceptance of the terms of the Declaration when it surrendered.<ref name="english.people.com.cn" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://japanfocus.org/-koji-taira/2119 |title=Koji Taira |date=July 2, 2008 |publisher=Japan Focus |access-date=20 August 2012 |archive-date=August 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822000515/http://www.japanfocus.org/-Koji-Taira/2119 |url-status=live }} {{verify source |date=August 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted (]) by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite at ] cite #51 – please verify the cite's accuracy and remove this {verify source} template. ]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndl.go.jp/constitution/e/etc/c06.html|title=Potsdam Declaration (full text)|access-date=30 October 2014|archive-date=January 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122210220/http://www.ndl.go.jp/constitution/e/etc/c06.html|url-status=live}} {{verify source |date=August 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted (]) by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite at ] cite #52 – please verify the cite's accuracy and remove this {verify source} template. ]}}</ref>
* China's formal protest of the ].<ref>'']'', Beijing, China, 31 December 1971, Page 1, "An Declaration of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, 1971–<!-- preserve format -->12-30" {{verify source |date=August 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted (]) by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite at ] cite #53 - please verify the cite's accuracy and remove this {verify source} template. ]}}</ref>

Japan does not accept that there is a dispute, asserting that the islands are an integral part of Japan.<ref>Netherlands Institute for the Law of the Sea (NILOS). (2000). {{Google books|6GOVS_0Zm6oC|''International Organizations and the Law of the Sea'', p. 108.|page=108}}</ref> Japan has rejected claims that the islands were under China's control prior to 1895, and that these islands were contemplated by the Potsdam Declaration or affected by the San Francisco Peace Treaty.<ref>Ji, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806132625/http://escholarship.org/uc/item/7rq2b069 |date=August 6, 2012 }}</ref>

The existence of the ] complicates descriptive issues. According to Professor ] of the Asia-Pacific Department at ],]s of the world.]]
* China's interpretation of the geography is that

<blockquote>...the Okinawa Trough proves that the continental shelves of China and Japan are not connected, that the Trough serves as the boundary between them, and that the Trough should not be ignored ....<ref name="ji11">Ji, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806132625/http://escholarship.org/uc/item/7rq2b069 |date=August 6, 2012 }}</ref></blockquote>

* Japan's interpretation of the geography is that

<blockquote>...the trough is just an incidental depression in a continuous continental margin between the two countries ... the trough should be ignored ....<ref name="ji11" /></blockquote>

] (1954)]]

The stance given by the Japanese ] is that the Senkaku Islands are clearly an inherent territory of Japan, in light of historical facts and based upon international law, and the Senkaku Islands are under the valid control of Japan. They also state "there exists no issue of territorial sovereignty to be resolved concerning the Senkaku Islands."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/senkaku/qa_1010.html |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan |title=Q&A on the Senkaku Islands |access-date=August 30, 2019 |archive-date=December 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101209063711/http://www.mofa.go.jp//region//asia-paci//senkaku//qa_1010.html |url-status=live }} {{verify source |date=August 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted (]) by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite at ] cite #13 – please verify the cite's accuracy and remove this {verify source} template. ]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE68N09H20100925 |title=Japan refuses China demand for apology in boat row |publisher=Reuter |date=25 September 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100928022824/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE68N09H20100925|url-status=dead |archive-date= 28 September 2010}} {{verify source |date=August 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted (]) by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite at ] cite #62 – please verify the cite's accuracy and remove this {verify source} template. ]}}</ref> The following points are given:

* The islands had been uninhabited and showed no trace of having been under the control of China prior to 1895.<ref name="mofa.go.jp">{{cite web |url=http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/senkaku/senkaku.html |title=The Basic View on the Sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands |website=www.mofa.go.jp |access-date=March 28, 2004 |archive-date=September 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100930044112/http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/senkaku/senkaku.html |url-status=live }} {{verify source |date=August 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted (]) by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite at ] cite #63 – please verify the cite's accuracy and remove this {verify source} template. ]}}</ref>
* The purposes of maps and the intentions behind their creators can vary significantly, and the mere existence of an ancient map does not substantiate claims of territorial sovereignty. The map (1785) cited by China from ] does not provide evidence that the creator's coloring was intended to indicate an understanding of territorial sovereignty. This map depicts Taiwan as being only about one-third the size of Okinawa's main island and is colored differently from that of mainland China. This suggests that the creator did not possess accurate knowledge.<ref name=":5" />
* The islands were neither part of ] nor part of the ], which were ceded to Japan by the Qing Dynasty of China in Article II of the May 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki,<ref name="mofa.go.jp" /> thus were not renounced by Japan under Article II of the ], which serves as the international law addressing the aftermath of WW2.<ref>Satoru Sato, Press Secretary, Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114181634/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704129204575505141368553952 |date=November 14, 2017 }} '']'', 21 September 2010 {{verify source |date=August 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted (]) by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite at ] cite #64 – please verify the cite's accuracy and remove this {verify source} template. ]}}</ref>
* A resident of Okinawa Prefecture who had been engaging in activities such as fishery around the Senkaku Islands since around 1884 made an application for the lease of the islands, and approval was granted by the Meiji Government in 1896. After this approval, he sent a total of 248 workers to those islands and ran the following businesses: constructing piers,<ref>{{cite video |title=] なぜ日中は対立するのか? 映像で見えてきた尖閣問題 |language=ja}} {{verify source |date=August 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted (]) by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite at ] cite #65 – please verify the cite's accuracy and remove this {verify source} template. ]}}</ref> collecting bird feathers, manufacturing dried bonito, collecting coral, raising cattle, manufacturing canned goods and collecting mineral phosphate guano (bird manure for fuel use). The fact that the Meiji Government gave approval concerning the use of the Senkaku Islands to an individual, who in turn was able to openly run these businesses mentioned above based on the approval, demonstrates Japan's valid control over the Islands.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://nccuir.lib.nccu.edu.tw/bitstream/140.119/34418/7/61504107.pdf | script-title=zh:日本的東海政策 — 第四章:釣魚臺政策 | access-date=30 October 2013 | language=zh | archive-date=November 1, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101020732/http://nccuir.lib.nccu.edu.tw/bitstream/140.119/34418/7/61504107.pdf | url-status=dead }} {{verify source |date=August 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted (]) by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite at ] cite #66 – please verify the cite's accuracy and remove this {verify source} template. ]}}</ref>
* In May 1920, a thank-you letter from the Republic of China's consulate in Nagasaki regarding the rescue of Chinese fishermen in distress near the Senkaku Islands by Japanese fishermen included the notation "Senkaku Islands, Yaeyama District, Okinawa Prefecture, Empire of Japan."<ref name=":5" />
* Though the islands were controlled by the United States as an occupying power between 1945 and 1972, Japan has since 1972 exercised administration over the islands.
* In 1953, the official Chinese newspaper ] published an article that explicitly stated that the Ryukyu Islands consist of seven island groups, including the Senkaku Islands. Additionally, in the world atlas published by the China Map Press in 1958 (reprinted in 1960), these islands were clearly referred to as the "Senkaku Islands" and considered part of Okinawa.<ref name=":52">{{cite web |title=The Basic View on the Sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands |url=http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/senkaku/senkaku.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100930044112/http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/senkaku/senkaku.html |archive-date=September 30, 2010 |access-date=March 28, 2004 |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan}} {{verify source|date=August 2019|reason=This ref was deleted (]) by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite at ] cite #68 – please verify the cite's accuracy and remove this {verify source} template. ]}}</ref>
* Republic of China and ] only started claiming ownership of the islands in 1971, following a May 1969 United Nations report that a large oil and gas reserve may exist under the seabed near the islands.<ref>{{cite news |first=Masami |last=Ito |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120518f1.html |title=Jurisdiction over remote Senkakus comes with hot-button dangers |date=18 May 2012 |newspaper=] |access-date=May 17, 2012 |archive-date=May 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519185138/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120518f1.html |url-status=dead }} {{verify source |date=August 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted (]) by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite at ] cite #67 – please verify the cite's accuracy and remove this {verify source} template. ]}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{cite web |url=http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/senkaku/senkaku.html |title=The Basic View on the Sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan |access-date=March 28, 2004 |archive-date=September 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100930044112/http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/senkaku/senkaku.html |url-status=live }} {{verify source |date=August 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted (]) by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite at ] cite #68 – please verify the cite's accuracy and remove this {verify source} template. ]}}</ref>

In 2012 the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs created a website in support of its claims;<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/senkaku/index.html |title=Senkaku Islands |access-date=February 23, 2015 |archive-date=February 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226050405/http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/senkaku/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> in late 2014 the National Marine Data and Information Service, a department under the State Oceanic Administration of People's Republic of China created a website of its own to support its claims.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.diaoyudao.org.cn/ |title=钓鱼岛_钓鱼岛是中国的固有领 (Diaoyu Islands |access-date=February 23, 2015 |archive-date=January 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129133640/http://www.diaoyudao.org.cn/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/01/china-japan-dispute-over-islands-spreads-to-cyberspace/ |title=China-Japan Dispute Over Islands Spreads to Cyberspace |date=January 1, 2015 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=February 23, 2015 |archive-date=January 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113042641/http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/01/china-japan-dispute-over-islands-spreads-to-cyberspace/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016, Chinese fishing, Coast Guard and other vessels were entering the territorial waters around the islands almost daily and in August 2016 the Japanese foreign minister ] reportedly told China's foreign minister ] "that the activity represented an escalation of tensions" according to Japanese sources. It was the first meeting of the top diplomats since the ] ruling against ]<ref>Page, Jeremy, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228205039/https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-claim-to-most-of-south-china-sea-has-no-legal-basis-court-says-1468315137 |date=February 28, 2017 }}, Wall Street ''Journal'', July 12, 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-24.</ref><ref>Dyer, Geoff, and Tom Mitchell, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210190913/https://www.ft.com/content/52072080-4a6f-11e6-8d68-72e9211e86ab?exe=16q3beacon&segmentId=aba9d385-594c-f817-40cc-dfb8139984a9 |date=February 10, 2017 }}, ''Financial Times'', July 15, 2016. With high-resolution aerial image of ]. Retrieved 2016-08-24.</ref> and was coincident with a three-party meeting (including ]) relative to a ]n submarine-launched missile in the ].<ref>Obe, Mitsuru, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205124056/https://www.wsj.com/articles/japan-presses-china-on-vessels-sailing-near-disputed-islands-1472039715 |date=February 5, 2017 }}, Wall Street ''Journal'', August 24, 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-24.</ref>

On 22 June 2020, the ] City Council voted to change the name of the area containing the Senkaku Islands from "Tonoshiro" to "Tonoshiro Senkaku".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/06/22/national/ishigaki-senkaku-renaming/ |title=Ishigaki renames area containing Senkaku Islands, prompting backlash fears |work=The Japan Times |date=2020-06-22 |access-date=2020-09-16 |archive-date=August 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811211945/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/06/22/national/ishigaki-senkaku-renaming/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Republic of China's ] responded that the islands belong to Republic of China, and any moves to deny this fact are invalid.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://international.thenewslens.com/article/136795 |title=Japan: Ishigaki City Council Votes to Inscribe 'Senkaku' Into Administrative Name of Disputed Islands |work=The News Lens |date=2020-06-22 |access-date=2020-09-16 |language=en |archive-date=August 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830202301/https://international.thenewslens.com/article/136795 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Taiwanese government and the opposition ] party also condemned the council's move, saying the Islands are ] territory and the nation would not give up even "an inch" of its sovereignty.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2020/06/23/2003738693 |title=Nation protests Japan's Diaoyutai move |work=The Taipei Times |date=2020-06-23 |access-date=2020-09-16 |archive-date=September 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916184404/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2020/06/23/2003738693 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==In popular culture==
'']'' is a documentary film produced by Chris D. Nebe and J.J. Osbun of Monarex Hollywood Corporation and directed by Chris D. Nebe. Nebe calls on the Japanese Government to cede the islands to China, asserting that Japan has no justifiable claim to the islands, and that the ] has turned a blind eye in Japan's favor due to the need of the United States to have a strong ally between it and China. Reception of the film was positive in Chinese media, while the ]'s '']'' called Nebe a 'Chinese propagandist' in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/correspondents/content/2014/s3997182.htm|title=From porn to propaganda: The Truth|work=ABC Television|date=May 4, 2014|access-date=April 7, 2022|archive-date=August 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827193606/https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/correspondentsreport|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2018 the ] (currently located in the Toranomon Mitsui Building, ]) was established by the Japanese government to raise public awareness of Japanese ] concerning the Senkaku Islands, as well as issues concerning territorial claims to ] and ].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-01-25 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/japan-displays-documents-to-defend-claims-to-disputed-isles/2018/01/24/c9333f42-0187-11e8-86b9-8908743c79dd_story.html |title=Japan displays documents to defend claims to disputed isles |newspaper=The Washington Post |agency=Associated Press|access-date=2018-01-26|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126185106/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/japan-displays-documents-to-defend-claims-to-disputed-isles/2018/01/24/c9333f42-0187-11e8-86b9-8908743c79dd_story.html|archive-date=2018-01-26}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
*] * ]
*] * ]
*] * ]
*] * ]
*] * ]
*] * ]


==References== == Notes ==
{{notelist}}
<references/>


==Footnotes==
== External links ==
{{reflist}}
*


==References==
* (by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
{{refbegin}}
* Professor of History department Kyoto University
* ] and Arthur Adams. (1848). ''Narrative of the Voyage of H.M.S. Samarang, During the Years 1843–46: Employed Surveying the Islands of the Eastern Archipelago''. London : Reeve, Benham, and Reeve. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220507160001/http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/192154 |date=May 7, 2022 }}
*
* ], David A. Colson, Robert W. Smith. (2005). ''International Maritime Boundaries'', 5 vols. Hotei Publishing: Leiden. {{ISBN|9780792311874}}; {{ISBN|9789041119544}}; {{ISBN|9789041103451}}; {{ISBN|9789004144613}}; {{ISBN|9789004144798}};
*
* ]. (1889). ''A Directory for the Navigation of the Indian Archipelago and the Coast of China''. London: R. H. Laurie. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827193606/https://search.worldcat.org/title/55548028 |date=August 27, 2024 }}
*
* Hagström, Linus. (2005). ''Japan's China Policy: A Relational Power Analysis''. London: Routledge. {{ISBN|978-0-415-34679-5}}; {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827193719/https://search.worldcat.org/title/475020946 |date=August 27, 2024 }}
*
* ]. (1972) Senkaku Letto /Diaoyu Islands The Historical Treatise. Kyoto: Daisan Publisher (出版社: 第三書館) (1996/10) {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120717204607/http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4807496123 |date=July 17, 2012 }}. {{ISBN|978-4-8074-9612-9}}; also hosted in here {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626064957/http://www.mahoroba.ne.jp/~tatsumi/dinoue0.html |date=June 26, 2014 }} for online reading (set to Shift-JIS character code), with {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309144855/http://www.skycitygallery.com/japan/diaohist.html |date=March 9, 2021 }}. Chinese translation by Ying Hui, Published by Commercial Press Hong Kong (1973) {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614143225/http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1723970?lookfor=author:%22%E4%BA%95%E4%B8%8A%E6%B8%85,%201913-%22&offset=3&max=18 |date=June 14, 2011 }}, {{ISBN|9622574734}}.
* Article at
* Jarrad, Frederick W. (1873). ''The China Sea Directory, Vol. IV. Comprising the Coasts of Korea, Russian Tartary, the Japan Islands, Gulfs of Tartary and Amúr, and the Sea of Okhotsk''. London: Hydrographic Office, Admiralty.
*
* {{citation |last=Lai |first=Yew Meng |year=2013 |title=Nationalism and Power Politics in Japan's Relations with China: A Neoclassical Realist Interpretation |page= |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-22977-0}}
* Lee, Seokwoo, Shelagh Furness and Clive Schofield. (2002). ''Territorial disputes among Japan, China and Republic of China concerning the Senkaku Islands''. Durham: University of Durham, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091018082015/http://www.dur.ac.uk/ibru/ |date=October 18, 2009 }}. {{ISBN|978-1-897643-50-1}}; {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420162042/https://www.worldcat.org/title/territorial-disputes-among-japan-china-and-Republic |date=April 20, 2023 }}
* Suganuma, Unryu. (2000). ''Sovereign Rights and Territorial Space in Sino-Japanese Relations''. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. {{ISBN|978-0-8248-2159-3}};
* Valencia, Mark J. (2001). ''Maritime Regime Building: Lessons Learned and Their Relevance for Northeast Asia''. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff. {{ISBN|9789041115805}};
{{refend}}


==Further reading==
]
{{refbegin}}
]
* Donaldson, John and Alison Williams. "Understanding Maritime Jurisdictional Disputes: The East China Sea and Beyond", '']'', Vol. 59, No. 1. {{JSTOR|24358237 }}.
]
* Dzurek, Daniel. , ] (]). October 18, 1996.
]
* Helflin, William B. , 1 '']'', pp.&nbsp;1–22 (2000).
* O'Hanlon, Michael E. ''The Senkaku Paradox: Risking Great Power War Over Small Stakes'' (Brookings Institution, 2019) {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217095037/https://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=55868 |date=February 17, 2022 }}
* Peterson, Alexander M. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618131307/http://organizations.lawschool.cornell.edu/ilj/issues/42.3/CIN305.pdf |date=June 18, 2010 }} 42 '']'', pp.&nbsp;441–474 (2009).
* Ramos-Mrosovsky, Carlos. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220102636/https://www.law.upenn.edu/journals/jil/articles/volume29/issue4/RamosMrosovsky29U.Pa.J.Int%27lL.903%282008%29.pdf |date=February 20, 2017 }}, 29 '']'', pp.&nbsp;903–946 (2008).
* Sunohara, Tsuyoshi. ''Fencing in the Dark: Japan, China, and the Senkakus'' (Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture, 2020) {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307071634/https://www.jpicinternational.com/books/politicalscience/75ff44af0065ce830448cb4bc82be9d38331fc06.html |date=March 7, 2023 }}
{{refend}}


==External links==
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{{Commons category}}
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* ],
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* Cabinet Secretariat (Japan),
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* ]:
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* , ] Asia-Pacific. September 24, 2010.
]
* ]: ;
]
* ] (ICE),
]
* ] (1785). (''Sangoku Tsuran Zusetsu''). ],
]
* Senkaku Islands Bibliographical Materials Society
]
* , '']''
]


{{Territorial disputes in East and South Asia}}
== Headline text ==
{{Portal bar|Politics|Republic of China|China|Japan|Islands}}
{{Authority control}}

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Latest revision as of 18:58, 24 December 2024

Islands disputed between Japan, China and Taiwan "Diaoyutai" redirects here. For the Chinese state guesthouse, see Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
A request that this article title be changed to Diaoyu Islands is under discussion. Please do not move this article until the discussion is closed.

Senkaku Islands
Disputed islands
Location of the islands (yellow rectangle and inset)
Other namesDiaoyu Islands / Diaoyutai Islands / Pinnacle Islands
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates25°44′42″N 123°29′06″E / 25.74500°N 123.48500°E / 25.74500; 123.48500
Total islands5 + 3 rocks (reefs)
Major islands
  • Uotsuri-shima / Diaoyu Dao
  • Taishō-tō / Chiwei Yu
  • Kuba-shima / Huangwei Yu
  • Kita-Kojima / Bei Xiaodao
  • Minami-Kojima / Nan Xiaodao
Area7 km (2.7 sq mi)
Highest elevation383 m (1257 ft)
Administration
 Japan
CityIshigaki, Okinawa
Claimed by
 Taiwan
TownshipToucheng Township, Yilan County, Taiwan
 China
CountyYilan County, Taiwan
Senkaku Islands
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese釣魚島及其附屬島嶼
Simplified Chinese钓鱼岛及其附属岛屿
Literal meaningDiaoyu Island and its affiliated islands
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinDiàoyúdǎo jí qí fùshǔ dǎoyǔ
Bopomofoㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄩˊ ㄉㄠˇ ㄐㄧˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄕㄨˇ ㄉㄠˇ ㄩˇ
Wade–GilesTiao-yü-tao chi ch'i fu-shu tao-yü
IPA
Taiwanese name
Traditional Chinese釣魚臺列嶼
Simplified Chinese钓鱼台列屿
Literal meaningDiaoyutai / Tiaoyutai Islands
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinDiàoyútái liè yǔ
Bopomofoㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄩˊ ㄊㄞˊ ㄌㄧㄝˋ ㄩˇ
Wade–GilesTiao-yü-t'ai lieh yü
IPA
Japanese name
Hiraganaせんかくしょとう
Shinjitai尖閣諸島
Transcriptions
Revised HepburnSenkaku-shotō
Kunrei-shikiSenkaku-syotô

The Senkaku Islands, known as the Diaoyu Islands in China and the Tiaoyutai Islands in Taiwan, are a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea, administered by Japan. They were historically known in the Western world as the Pinnacle Islands. The islands are located northeast of Taiwan, east of China, west of Okinawa Island, and north of the southwestern end of the Ryukyu Islands.

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. The United States administered the islands as part of the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands from 1945 until 1972, when the islands returned to Japanese control under the Okinawa Reversion Agreement between the United States and Japan. The discovery of potential undersea oil reserves in 1968 in the area was a catalyst for further interest in the disputed islands. Despite the diplomatic stalemate between China and Taiwan, both governments agree that the islands are part of Taiwan as part of Toucheng Township in Yilan County. Japan administers and controls the Senkaku islands as part of the city of Ishigaki in Okinawa Prefecture. It does not acknowledge the claims of China nor Taiwan, but it has not allowed the Ishigaki administration to develop the islands.

As a result of the dispute, the public is largely barred from approaching the uninhabited islands, which are about a seven-hour boat ride from Ishigaki. Vessels from the Japan Coast Guard pursue Chinese ships crossing the maritime boundary in what one visiting journalist described in 2012 as "an almost cold war-style game of cat-and-mouse", and fishing and other civilian boats are prevented from getting too close to avoid a provocative incident.

The Senkaku Islands are important nesting sites for seabirds, and are one of two remaining nesting sites in the world for the short-tailed albatross, alongside Tori-shima, Izu Islands.

Names

The islands are referred to as the Senkaku Islands (, Senkaku-shotō, variants: 尖閣群島 Senkaku-guntō and 尖閣列島 Senkaku-rettō) in Japanese. In mainland China, they are known as the Diaoyu Islands (Chinese: 钓鱼; pinyin: Diàoyúdǎo) or more fully "Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands" (Chinese: 钓鱼附属岛屿; pinyin: Diàoyúdǎo jí qí fùshǔ dǎoyǔ), while in Taiwan they are called the Diaoyutai Islands or Tiaoyutai Islands (Chinese: 釣魚臺列嶼; pinyin: Diàoyútái liè yǔ). In Western sources, the historical English name Pinnacle Islands is occasionally still used when neutrality among the competing national claims is desirable.

In Okinawan (northern Ryukyu), the islands are known as ʔiyukubajima (魚蒲葵島), while their Yaeyama (southern Ryukyu) name is iigunkubajima.

Chinese records of these islands date back to as early as the 15th century when they were referred as Diaoyu in books such as Voyage with a Tail Wind (Chinese: 順風相送; pinyin: Shùnfēng Xiāngsòng) (1403) and Record of the Imperial Envoy's Visit to Ryūkyū (Chinese: 使琉球錄; pinyin: Shǐ Liúqiú Lù) (1534). Adopted by the Chinese Imperial Map of the Ming Dynasty, the Chinese name for the island group (Diaoyu) and the Japanese name for the main island (Uotsuri) both mean "fishing".

History

An extract from a map of Asia (China and Tartary) drawn by Jean Baptiste Bourguignon d'Anville in 1752.

Early history

Historically, the Chinese had used the uninhabited islands as navigational markers in making the voyage to the Ryukyu Kingdom upon commencement of diplomatic missions to the kingdom, "resetting the compass at a particular isle in order to reach the next one".

The first published description of the islands in Europe appears in a book imported by Isaac Titsingh in 1796. His small library of Japanese books included Sangoku Tsūran Zusetsu (三國通覧圖說, An Illustrated Description of Three Countries) by Hayashi Shihei. This text, which was published in Japan in 1785, described the Ryūkyū Kingdom. Hayashi followed convention in giving the islands their Chinese names in his map in the text, where he coloured them in the same pink as China.

In 1832, the Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland supported the posthumous abridged publication of Titsingh's French translation.

The name, "Pinnacle Isles" was first used by James Colnett, who charted them during his 1789–1791 voyage in the Argonaut. William Robert Broughton sailed past them in November 1797 during his voyage of discovery to the North Pacific in HMS Providence, and referred to Diaoyu Island/Uotsuri Island as "Peaks Island". Reference was made to the islands in Edward Belcher's 1848 account of the voyages of HMS Sammarang. Captain Belcher remarked that "the names assigned in this region have been too hastily admitted." Belcher reported anchoring off Pinnacle Island in March 1845.

In the 1870s and 1880s, the English name Pinnacle Islands was used by the British navy for the rocks adjacent to the largest island Uotsuri-shima / Diaoyu Dao (then called 和平嶼; hô-pîng-sū; 'Peace Island in Hokkien'); Kuba-shima / Huangwei Yu (then called Ti-a-usu); and Taishō-tō / Chiwei Yu.

A Japanese navy record issued in 1886 first started to identify the islets using equivalents of the Chinese and English terms employed by the British. The name "Senkaku Retto" is not found in any Japanese historical document before 1900 (the term "Senkaku Gunto" began being used in the late 19th century), and first appeared in print in a geography journal published in 1900. It was derived from a translation of the English name Pinnacle Islands into a Sinicized Japanese term "Sento Shoto" (as opposed to "Senkaku Retto", i.e., the term used by the Japanese today), which has the same meaning.

The collective use of the name "Diaoyutai" to denote the entire group began with the advent of the controversy in the 1970s.

Control of the islands by Japan and the US

Japanese workers at a bonito fishery processing plant on Uotsuri-shima sometime around 1910
Map including Uotsuri-Shima (labeled as UOTSURI-SHIMA 魚釣島) (1954)
Map including Taishō-tō (labeled as SEKIBI-SHO 赤尾屿) (1954)

As the uninhabited islets were historically used as maritime navigational markers, they were never subjected to administrative control other than the recording of the geographical positions on maps, descriptions in official records of Chinese missions to the Ryukyu Kingdom, etc.

The Japanese central government incorporated the islands into Okinawa Prefecture in January 1895 while still fighting China in the First Sino-Japanese War. Around 1900, Japanese entrepreneur Koga Tatsushirō (古賀 辰四郎) constructed a bonito fish processing plant on the islands, employing over 200 workers. The business failed around 1940 and the islands have remained deserted ever since. In the 1970s, Koga Tatsushirō's son Zenji Koga and Zenji's wife Hanako sold four islets to the Kurihara family of Saitama Prefecture. Kunioki Kurihara owned Uotsuri, Kita-Kojima, and Minami-Kojima. Kunioki's sister owned Kuba.

The islands came under US government occupation in 1945 after the surrender of Japan ended World War II. In 1969, the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) identified potential oil and gas reserves in the vicinity of the Senkaku Islands. In 1971, the Okinawa Reversion Treaty passed the U.S. Senate, returning the islands to Japanese control in 1972. Also in 1972, the Republic of China government and People's Republic of China government officially began to declare ownership of the islands.

Since 1972, when the islands reverted to Japanese government control, the government of Ishigaki has been given civic authority over the territory. The Japanese central government, however, has prohibited Ishigaki from surveying or developing the islands.

In 1978, a Japanese political group constructed the first lighthouse on Uotsuri island and grazed two goats. Goats have since proliferated and affected the island's vegetation.

In 1979 an official delegation from the Japanese government composed of 50 academics, government officials from the Foreign and Transport ministries, officials from the now-defunct Okinawa Development Agency, and Hiroyuki Kurihara, visited the islands and camped on Uotsuri for about four weeks. The delegation surveyed the local ecosystem, finding moles and sheep, studied the local marine life, and examined whether the islands would support human habitation.

In 1988, a Japanese political group reconstructed a lighthouse on Uotsuri Island.

In 2005, a Japanese fisherman who owned a lighthouse at Uotsuri Island expressed his intention to relinquish the ownership of the lighthouse, and the lighthouse became a national property pursuant to the provisions of the Civil Code of Japan. Since then, the Japan Coast Guard has maintained and managed the Uotsuri lighthouse.

From 2002 to 2012, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications paid the Kurihara family ¥25 million a year to rent Uotsuri, Minami-Kojima and Kita-Kojima. Japan's Ministry of Defense rents Kuba island for an undisclosed amount. Kuba is used by the U.S. military as a practice aircraft bombing range. Japan's central government completely owns Taisho island.

The reaction of the Kan Cabinet to the September 2010 Senkaku boat collision incident was seen by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as "a very foolish move" and "frighteningly naive".

On December 17, 2010, the city of Ishigaki designated January 14 as "Pioneering Day" to commemorate Japan's 1895 incorporation of the Senkaku Islands. China condemned Ishigaki's actions.

In May 2012, both the Tokyo Metropolitan and Japanese central governments announced plans to negotiate purchase of Uotsuri, Kita-Kojima, and Minami-Kojima from the Kurihara family, and on September 11, 2012, the Japanese government nationalized its control over Minami-kojima, Kita-kojima, and Uotsuri islands by purchasing them from the Kurihara family for ¥2.05 billion. China's Foreign Ministry objected saying Beijing would not "sit back and watch its territorial sovereignty violated."

In 2014, Japan constructed a lighthouse and wharf featuring Japanese flag insignia on the islets.

Geography

Map of the Senkaku Islands area (1944)
A cluster of islets – Uotsuri-shima (left), Kita-Kojima and Minami-Kojima (right)

The island group are known to consist of five uninhabited islets and three barren rocks. China has identified and named as many as 71 islets that belong to this group after the Japanese Cabinet released names of 39 uninhabited islands.

These minor features in the East China Sea are located approximately 120 nautical miles northeast of Taiwan, 200 nautical miles east of the Chinese mainland and 200 nautical miles southwest of the Japanese island of Okinawa.

According to one visitor, Uotsuri-shima, the largest of the islands, consists of a pair of rocky gray mountains with steep, boulder-strewn slopes rising almost straight from the water's edge. Other, nearby islands were described as large rocks covered by low vegetation.

In ascending order of distances, the island cluster is located:

Islands in the group
No. Japanese name Republic of China name China (PRC) name Coordinates Area (km) Highest elevation (m) Images
1 Uotsuri Island (魚釣島) 釣魚臺 / 釣魚台 Diaoyutai
POJ: Tiò-hî-tâi
Diaoyu Dao (钓鱼岛/釣魚島) 25°44′36″N 123°28′33″E / 25.74333°N 123.47583°E / 25.74333; 123.47583 4.32 383
2 Taisho Island (大正島) 赤尾嶼 Chiwei Isle Chiwei Yu (赤尾屿/赤尾嶼) 25°55′21″N 124°33′31″E / 25.92250°N 124.55861°E / 25.92250; 124.55861 0.0609 75
3 Kuba Island (久場島) 黃尾嶼 Huangwei Isle Huangwei Yu (黄尾屿/黄尾嶼) 25°55′26″N 123°40′55″E / 25.92389°N 123.68194°E / 25.92389; 123.68194 1.08 117
4 Kitakojima Island (北小島) 北小島 Beixiao Island Beixiao Dao (北小岛/北小島) 25°43′47″N 123°32′29″E / 25.72972°N 123.54139°E / 25.72972; 123.54139 0.3267 135
Kita-Kojima (left) and Minami-Kojima (right)
5 Minamikojima Island (南小島) 南小島 Nanxiao Island Nanxiao Dao (南小岛/南小島) 25°43′25″N 123°33′00″E / 25.72361°N 123.55000°E / 25.72361; 123.55000 0.4592 149
6 Okinokitaiwa Island (沖ノ北岩) 沖北岩 Chongbeiyan Bei Yu (北屿/大北小岛/大北小島) 25°46′45″N 123°32′30″E / 25.77917°N 123.54167°E / 25.77917; 123.54167 0.0183 nominal
7 Okinominamiiwa Island (沖ノ南岩) 沖南岩 Chongnanyan Nan Yu (南屿/大南小岛/大南小島/南岩) 25°45′19″N 123°34′01″E / 25.75528°N 123.56694°E / 25.75528; 123.56694 0.0048 nominal
8 Tobise Island (飛瀬) 飛瀨 Feilai Fei Yu (飞屿/飞礁岩/飛礁岩) 25°44′08″N 123°30′22″E / 25.73556°N 123.50611°E / 25.73556; 123.50611 0.0008 nominal
Tobise rocks (bottom right)
The five islands and three rocks, numbered for the table above.

The depth of the surrounding waters of the continental shelf is approximately 100–150 metres (330–490 ft) except for the Okinawa Trough on the south. The shelf is shallow enough that the western islands were likely connected to the mainland during the Last Glacial Period.

Geology

A geological map of Uotsuri-shima drawn by Japanese geologist Hisashi Kuroiwa in 1900.

Uotsuri, Kitakojima, Minamikojima and surrounding islets are sedimentary in origin, predominantly consisting of probably Miocene aged sandstone and sandstone-conglomerate, with subordinate conglomerate, coal seams up to 10 centimetres (3.9 in) thick, and rare siltstone beds. The sedimentary strata have around 300 metres (980 ft) of exposed thickness at Uotsuri, and have SW-NE, EW and NW-SE strikes, with a general inclination of a dip of less than 20 degrees towards the North. These strata are intruded by sheets of Mio-Pliocene porphyritic hornblende diorite, and are fringed by recent coral outcrops and surface talus deposits. Kuba and Taisho are volcanic in origin, with Kuba comprising "pyroxene andesite, lava, volcanic bombs, pumice, limestone, and other rocky material" and Taisho is thought to be consist of "andesite, tuff breccia, and tuffaceous sandstone".

Wildlife

Plants

Permission for collecting herbs on three of the islands was recorded in an Imperial Chinese edict of 1893.

Several floral surveys have been conducted on the Senkaku islands, with a 1980 survey finding that Uotsuri had 339 species of plants. These ecological communities varied based on altitude, with the communities being divided into windswept mountaintop vegetation with Podocarpus macrophyllus trees, with the understory including Liriope muscari and Rhaphiolepis umbellata, inclined high forest including the palms Livistona chinensis and Arenga engleri, lowland windswept shrub forest including Ficus microcarpa and Planchonella obovata, and seashore plants. Minamikojima was much less diverse, and dominated by grasses, while Kitakojima only had sparse plant life. Kuba has a forest near the crater, which includes a variety of flora including Ceodes umbellifera, Macaranga tanarius, Ficus benjamina, Diospyros maritima, Trema orientalis, Machilus thunbergii, and Livistona subglobosa, with forest floor plants being sparse.

Animals

In an account by Hisashi Kuroiwa [ja] in 1900, it was noted the large number of birds present on the islands, tens of thousands of short-tailed and black-footed albatross would flock on Uotsuri-shima, in the colder months, while hundreds of thousands of sooty tern and brown noddy would descend on Kitakojima and Minamikojima in the warmer months. He also described the air of Uotsuri as swarming with bluebottle flies and mosquitoes. In the same year, an account by Miyajima Mikinosuke [ja], surveying Kuba Island, noted the presence of whimbrel, Von Schrenck's bittern, the streaked shearwater, and the brown booby. Mikinosuke also noted the large number of chickens and feral cats on the island, with dozens of cats descending on the seabirds at night. Kitakojima and Minamikojima are one of only two significant breeding places of the rare short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus). The islands have been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International.

Uotsuri-shima, the largest island, has a number of endemic species such as the Senkaku mole (Mogera uchidai) and Okinawa-kuro-oo-ari ant. Due to the introduction of domestic goats to the island in 1978, the Senkaku mole is now an endangered species. The striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) has also been noted to be present on Uotsuri. Surveys from 1900 to 1953 and noted the presence of the Asian house shrew, black rats and fruit bats but these were not noted in more recent surveys.

Six species of reptile have been recorded from the islands, including Gekko hokouensis (Uotsuri, Minami) Eumeces elegans (Uotsuri, Minami), an indeterminate species of Scincella (Uotsuri) Ramphotyphlops braminus (Uotsuri) Elaphe carinata (Uotsuri) and Dinodon rufozonatus (Uotsuri).

Rich marine biodiversity adjacent to the islands has been recognized but poorly studied. Seemingly, varieties of larger fish and animals inhabit or migrate through the area, including tunas, sharks, marlins, critically endangered hawksbill sea turtles, dolphins, pilot whales, sperm whales, and humpback whales.

Sovereignty dispute

Main article: Senkaku Islands dispute

Territorial sovereignty over the islands and the maritime boundaries around them are disputed between the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, and Japan.

The People's Republic and Republic of China claim that the islands have been a part of Chinese territory since at least 1534. China acknowledges that Japan took control of the islands in 1894–1895 during the first Sino-Japanese War, through the signature of the Treaty of Shimonoseki. China asserts that the Potsdam Declaration required that Japan relinquish control of all islands except for "the islands of Honshū, Hokkaidō, Kyūshū, Shikoku and such minor islands as we determine", and China states that this means control of the islands should pass to Republic of China, which was part of China at the time of the first Sino-Japanese War as well as of the San Francisco Peace Treaty. Both the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (ROC) respectively separately claim sovereignty based on arguments that include the following points:

  • Discovery and early recording in maps and travelogues.
  • The islands being China's frontier off-shore defence against wokou (Japanese pirates) during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1911).
  • A Chinese map of Asia, as well as the Sangoku Tsūran Zusetsu map compiled by Japanese cartographer Hayashi Shihei in the 18th century, showing the islands as a part of China.
  • Japan taking control of the islands in 1895 at the same time as the First Sino-Japanese War was happening. Furthermore, correspondence between Foreign Minister Inoue and Interior Minister Yamagata in 1885, warned against the erection of national markers and developing their land to avoid Qing Dynasty suspicions.
  • The Potsdam Declaration stating that "Japanese sovereignty shall be limited to the islands of Honshū, Hokkaidō, Kyūshū, Shikoku and such minor islands as we determine", and "we" referred to the victors of the Second World War who met at Potsdam and Japan's acceptance of the terms of the Declaration when it surrendered.
  • China's formal protest of the 1971 US transfer of control to Japan.

Japan does not accept that there is a dispute, asserting that the islands are an integral part of Japan. Japan has rejected claims that the islands were under China's control prior to 1895, and that these islands were contemplated by the Potsdam Declaration or affected by the San Francisco Peace Treaty.

The existence of the back-arc basin complicates descriptive issues. According to Professor Ji Guoxing of the Asia-Pacific Department at Shanghai Institute for International Studies,

The Okinawa trough in context of back-arc basins of the world.
  • China's interpretation of the geography is that

...the Okinawa Trough proves that the continental shelves of China and Japan are not connected, that the Trough serves as the boundary between them, and that the Trough should not be ignored ....

  • Japan's interpretation of the geography is that

...the trough is just an incidental depression in a continuous continental margin between the two countries ... the trough should be ignored ....

Map including the Senkaku Islands (labeled as SENKAKU-GUNTŌ) and surrounding areas from the International Map of the World (1954)

The stance given by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs is that the Senkaku Islands are clearly an inherent territory of Japan, in light of historical facts and based upon international law, and the Senkaku Islands are under the valid control of Japan. They also state "there exists no issue of territorial sovereignty to be resolved concerning the Senkaku Islands." The following points are given:

  • The islands had been uninhabited and showed no trace of having been under the control of China prior to 1895.
  • The purposes of maps and the intentions behind their creators can vary significantly, and the mere existence of an ancient map does not substantiate claims of territorial sovereignty. The map (1785) cited by China from Hayashi Shihei does not provide evidence that the creator's coloring was intended to indicate an understanding of territorial sovereignty. This map depicts Taiwan as being only about one-third the size of Okinawa's main island and is colored differently from that of mainland China. This suggests that the creator did not possess accurate knowledge.
  • The islands were neither part of Taiwan nor part of the Pescadores Islands, which were ceded to Japan by the Qing Dynasty of China in Article II of the May 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki, thus were not renounced by Japan under Article II of the San Francisco Peace Treaty, which serves as the international law addressing the aftermath of WW2.
  • A resident of Okinawa Prefecture who had been engaging in activities such as fishery around the Senkaku Islands since around 1884 made an application for the lease of the islands, and approval was granted by the Meiji Government in 1896. After this approval, he sent a total of 248 workers to those islands and ran the following businesses: constructing piers, collecting bird feathers, manufacturing dried bonito, collecting coral, raising cattle, manufacturing canned goods and collecting mineral phosphate guano (bird manure for fuel use). The fact that the Meiji Government gave approval concerning the use of the Senkaku Islands to an individual, who in turn was able to openly run these businesses mentioned above based on the approval, demonstrates Japan's valid control over the Islands.
  • In May 1920, a thank-you letter from the Republic of China's consulate in Nagasaki regarding the rescue of Chinese fishermen in distress near the Senkaku Islands by Japanese fishermen included the notation "Senkaku Islands, Yaeyama District, Okinawa Prefecture, Empire of Japan."
  • Though the islands were controlled by the United States as an occupying power between 1945 and 1972, Japan has since 1972 exercised administration over the islands.
  • In 1953, the official Chinese newspaper People's Daily published an article that explicitly stated that the Ryukyu Islands consist of seven island groups, including the Senkaku Islands. Additionally, in the world atlas published by the China Map Press in 1958 (reprinted in 1960), these islands were clearly referred to as the "Senkaku Islands" and considered part of Okinawa.
  • Republic of China and People Republic of China only started claiming ownership of the islands in 1971, following a May 1969 United Nations report that a large oil and gas reserve may exist under the seabed near the islands.

In 2012 the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs created a website in support of its claims; in late 2014 the National Marine Data and Information Service, a department under the State Oceanic Administration of People's Republic of China created a website of its own to support its claims. In 2016, Chinese fishing, Coast Guard and other vessels were entering the territorial waters around the islands almost daily and in August 2016 the Japanese foreign minister Fumio Kishida reportedly told China's foreign minister Wang Yi "that the activity represented an escalation of tensions" according to Japanese sources. It was the first meeting of the top diplomats since the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling against China's South China Sea claims and was coincident with a three-party meeting (including South Korea) relative to a North Korean submarine-launched missile in the Sea of Japan.

On 22 June 2020, the Ishigaki City Council voted to change the name of the area containing the Senkaku Islands from "Tonoshiro" to "Tonoshiro Senkaku". Republic of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded that the islands belong to Republic of China, and any moves to deny this fact are invalid. The Taiwanese government and the opposition KMT party also condemned the council's move, saying the Islands are ROC territory and the nation would not give up even "an inch" of its sovereignty.

In popular culture

Diaoyu Islands: The Truth is a documentary film produced by Chris D. Nebe and J.J. Osbun of Monarex Hollywood Corporation and directed by Chris D. Nebe. Nebe calls on the Japanese Government to cede the islands to China, asserting that Japan has no justifiable claim to the islands, and that the United States of America has turned a blind eye in Japan's favor due to the need of the United States to have a strong ally between it and China. Reception of the film was positive in Chinese media, while the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Correspondents Report called Nebe a 'Chinese propagandist' in 2014.

In 2018 the National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty (currently located in the Toranomon Mitsui Building, Chiyoda, Tokyo) was established by the Japanese government to raise public awareness of Japanese territorial rights issues concerning the Senkaku Islands, as well as issues concerning territorial claims to Takeshima and southernmost Kuril Islands.

See also

Notes

  1. Japanese: 尖閣諸島, Senkaku-shotō; variants: 尖閣群島, Senkaku-guntō; and 尖閣列島, Senkaku-rettō
  2. Chinese: 钓鱼
  3. Chinese: 釣魚臺列嶼

Footnotes

  1. The Guardian (November 23, 2013). "China imposes airspace restrictions over Japan-controlled Senkaku islands". TheGuardian.com. Retrieved December 3, 2013. China imposes airspace restrictions over Japan-controlled Senkaku islands
  2. France24 (November 27, 2013). "US defies China to fly over disputed Senkaku islands". Archived from the original on December 25, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2013. The zone covers the Tokyo-controlled Senkaku islands{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. 釣魚臺列嶼相關文獻 (in Chinese). Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan). Archived from the original on October 24, 2013.
  4. 地理位置圖. 宜蘭縣頭城鎮公所 Toucheng Township Office (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on July 7, 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2019. 另轄兩小島(龜山島及龜卵嶼)及一群島(釣魚臺列嶼)。
  5. 我們的釣魚臺 (in Chinese). Central News Agency (Republic of China). Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  6. 中华人民共和国国务院新闻办公室 (September 25, 2012). 《钓鱼岛是中国的固有领土》白皮书 (in Chinese). 新华社. Archived from the original on September 27, 2012. 1871年......将钓鱼岛列入海防冲要,隶属台湾府噶玛兰厅(今台湾省宜兰县)管辖。
  7. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Senkaku-guntō, Japan Archived June 30, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, retrieved September 20, 2010.
  8. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Senkaku-rettō, Japan Archived April 9, 2023, at the Wayback Machine, retrieved September 20, 2010.
  9. McDorman, Ted L. (2005). "Central Pacific and East Asian Maritime Boundaries" in International Maritime Boundaries, Vol. 5, pp. 3441., p. 3441, at Google Books
  10. Lee, Seokwoo. (2002). Territorial Disputes Among Japan, China and Taiwan Concerning the Senkaku Islands, pp. 10–13., p. 10, at Google Books
  11. Lee, Seokwoo (2002). Territorial Disputes among Japan, China and Taiwan concerning the Senkaku Islands (Boundary & Territory Briefing Vol.3 No.7). IBRU. p. 6. ISBN 1897643500. The question of the disputed Senkaku Islands remained relatively dormant throughout the 1950s and 1960s, probably because these small uninhabited islands held little interest for the three claimants. The Senkaku Islands issue was not raised until the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (hereinafter 'ECAFE') of the United Nations Economic and Social Council suggested the possible existence of large hydrocarbon deposit in the waters off the Senkaku Islands. ... This development prompted vehement statements and counter-statements among the claimants.
  12. Pan, Junwu (2009). Toward a New Framework for Peaceful Settlement of China's Territorial and Boundary Disputes. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. p. 140. ISBN 978-9004174283. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved October 3, 2020. Obviously, primarily regional interests in oil and gas resources that may lie under the seas drive the two major disputes. The Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands issue did not re-surface until 1969 when the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East of the United Nations Economic and Social Council reported that the continental shelf of the East China "might contain one of the most prolific oil and gas reservoirs of the world, possibly comparing favourably with the Persian Gulf." Then both China and Japan had high expectations that there might be large hydrocarbon deposits in the waters off the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands. The Law of the Sea at that time emphasized the theory of natural prolongation in determining continental shelf jurisdiction. Ownership of the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands would permit the owner to a large area of the continental shelf that may have rich sources of gas and oil. Such a dispute is obviously related to the awakening interest by the world's states in developing offshore energy resources to meet the demand of their economies.
  13. Takamine, Tsukasa (2012). Japan's Development Aid to China, Volume 200: The Long-running Foreign Policy of Engagement. Routledge. p. 129. ISBN 978-0415352031. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved October 3, 2020. The islands had temporarily come under American control after the Second World War, but the sovereignty over the islands, was handed over to Japan in 1972 with the reversion of Okinawa.However, the PRC and ROC governments both made a territorial claim to the Senkaku Islands, soon after the United Nation Economic Commission issued in 1969 a report suggesting considerable reserve of submarine oil and gas resources around the islands.
  14. Drifte, Reinhard (2012). Japan's Security Relations with China Since 1989: From Balancing to Bandwagoning?. Routledge. p. 49. ISBN 978-1134406678. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved October 3, 2020. The dispute surfaced with the publication of a seismic survey report under the auspices of the UN Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECSFE) in 1968, which mentioned the possibility of huge oil and gas reserves in the area; this was confirmed by a Japanese report in 1969. Greg Austin mentions that Beijing started its claim to the Senkaku Islands for the first time in 1970, after Japanese government protested to the government in Taiwan about its allocation of oil concessions in the East China Sea, including the area of the Senkaku Islands.
  15. Lee, Seokwoo (2002). Territorial Disputes among Japan, China and Taiwan concerning the Senkaku Islands (Boundary & Territory Briefing Vol.3 No.7). IBRU. pp. 10–11. ISBN 1897643500. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved October 18, 2015. For a long time following the entry into force of the San Francisco Peace Treaty China/Taiwan raised no objection to the fact that the Senkaku Islands were included in the area placed under US administration in accordance with the provisions of Article of the treaty, and USCAP No. 27. In fact, neither China nor Taiwan had taken up the question of sovereignty over the islands until the latter half of 1970 when evidence relating to the existence of oil resources deposited in the East China Sea surfaced. All this clearly indicates that China/Taiwan had not regarded the Senkaku Islands as a part of Taiwan. Thus, for Japan, none of the alleged historical, geographical and geological arguments set forth by China/Taiwan are acceptable as valid under international law to substantiate China's territorial claim over the Senkaku Islands.
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  23. Harold C. Hinton (1980). The China Sea: The American Stake in its Future. National Strategy Information Center. p. 13, 14, 25, 26. ISBN 0-87855-871-3 – via Internet Archive. The other territorial dispute in the East China Sea is considerably more complicated and more serious. It relates to a group of eight small uninhabited islands known in China as the Tiaoyutai and in Japan as the Senkaku and claimed by Japan and both Chinas; they lie on the edge of the continental shelf about 120 miles northeast of Taiwan.
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  32. Japan's Territorial Disputes Archived July 8, 2023, at the Wayback Machine, American Diplomacy: "The Chinese call them the Diaoyu Islands, and on foreign maps in the past they have been called the Pinnacle Islands."
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References

Further reading

External links

Territorial disputes in East, South, and Southeast Asia
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