The Territorial Disputes of Japan - The Senkakus

Pretty, huh?

As a return to blogging I’ll be doing a three part series on the territorial disputes of Japan. The most widely discussed dispute involves the Senkaku island chain, which is claimed by China, Japan, and Taiwan.

Part 1- The Senkakus

The Senkakus are located just to the north of Taiwan and to the south of the Ryuku Island Chain. Over the last several years various nationalist groups from each of the rival claimants have made pilgrimages to the islands to bolster their claims. The recent uptick in rhetoric has been partially caused by the Japanese government purchasing the islands from their private owners.



The Claimants:

Japan: Either Japan or the United States has had de-facto control over the islands since 1895. In that year Japan wrested Taiwan away from China, reduced Korea to unofficial colony status, and took possession of the disputed islands after conducting an historical survey and determining that no other government had claimed the Senkakus. After the Treaty of San Francisco, which ended World War II, the United States assumed control over the islands as well as over Okinawa. These territories were returned to Japanese control in 1972.

China: China has made inconsistent claims to the islands, but has recently stated that they have been a part of China since “ancient times.” While the Japanese have stated that the incorporation of the Senkakus is a different matter than the conquest of Taiwan in 1895, the Chinese view the issues as linked, both due to geographic proximity of Taiwan and the Senkakus and the similar dates of their incorporation into Japan. However, China’s stance on the issue is understandably complicated. Chiang Kai Shek was not in the position to challenge the Japanese claim to the islands as he required continued support from the United States. On the other hand, Mao Ze Dong’s China was shut out of the international system until the late 70’s and was completely internally focused.

Taiwan: Taiwan’s claims rest on the same historical basis as China’s. This is one of the few international issues that China and Taiwan agree upon- whomever the islands eventually are controlled by, the government should represent Chinese people. This interest may reflect a desire to raise Taiwan’s international profile during a time when its international profile is receding behind that of Mainland China.

Recent events: In the last several years expeditions from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and Mainland China have sailed to islands, harassed the ships of the other claimants, or attempted to make landfall. In most cases the Japanese Coast Guard has turned the ships away, or the crews arrested. This led to a tense several weeks in 2010 where it appears the Chinese government cut off shipments of valuable natural resources to Japan in response to the arrests.
Of course money is involved: Surveys in the 1960’s and 70’s revealed the likely presence of natural gas and oil near the islands. Obviously, all of the claimants would like the rights to harvest these natural resources.

WAR: Neither Japan or China wants war with the other, and Taiwan would be incapable of prosecuting one against Japan. However, wars between powers that have mutually beneficial economic relationships typically occur due to miscalculation rather than intent. The dangers of a midair collision between Japanese and Chinese fighters, which would then lead to nationalistic responses from both populations should not be underestimated. Additionally the ethnic disdain that both sides have expressed for the other could lead the commanders directly involved in the patrols to underestimate the other side’s potential. The lack of transparency by the Chinese military regarding its capabilities only enhances the risks.



America: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has stated that the United States makes no ruling on who should control the islands. However she also stated that in any conflict over the islands the United States would come to the defense of Japan… meaning the USA has an opinion on who does control the islands.