A Fight Over Volcanic Islands

In the East China Sea lie eight specks of land -- rocky, volcanic outcrops that make up only three square miles of land. It's only habitants are some hardy goats. A recent fight over ownership of these disputed islands is sending two very powerful nations, China and Japan, on a collision course.

 Senkaku or Diaoyu?

The East China Sea is that part of the Pacific Ocean that is bordered by mainland China, Taiwan and Japan. The disputed islands, which lie close to Taiwan, are referred to as Senkaku by the Japanese and Diaoyu by the Chinese. The waters around the island are rich in fish and are believed to contain huge undersea deposits of oil and natural gas.

Japan surveyed the islands for 10 years and in 1895, brought them under its control after finding them uninhabited. During World War II (1939-1945), Japan had invaded China and annexed territories on the mainland. As part of the post-war peace treaty, Japan was forced to give up all occupied territories in China. The island of Senkaku, however, was brought under U.S. control.

 Courtesy BBC

The United States handed the islands back to Japan in 1972. Japan claims that China did not oppose the handoff and that territorial issues started brewing only after oil and natural gas deposits were found around the islands. China claims that the islands have belonged to them from ancient times and were administered as part of the province of Taiwan.

The recent standoff

Meanwhile, the islands have been in the hands of a private Japanese family since late 1800s. The recent decision by the Japanese government to purchase the property from the private individual has angered China's leadership. The dispute erupted into a war of words, with each side stoking their nationalistic pride.

In China, protestors took to the streets in 80 cities, attacking Japanese factories and burning Japanese-made goods and cars. China's government, which is usually adept at putting down protests, let this one simmer -- perhaps even secretly encouraging it, as it is election year after-all. Meanwhile, across the channel, Japanese citizens rose up in support of their government's decision. Car makers Nissan and Toyota have said they would cut production in China due to reduced demand. Taiwan has jumped into the fray as well, and patrol boats from all three nations are engaged in a tense standoff and water cannon fights around the island's waters.

China and Japan have made defiant speeches at the recent U.N. General Assembly meeting. However, both countries also share a close economic relationship. Japan is a holiday destination for Chinese tourists, and China's manufacturing industry depends on Japan. Can the two resolve this amicably? 

By Deepa Gopal
From   youngzine