Why in news?
Tensions flared again in the East China Sea when Chinese coast‑guard vessels approached the Senkaku Islands (called Diaoyu by China) in mid‑November 2025. Japan lodged a diplomatic protest, and both nations restated their claims over the uninhabited archipelago, underscoring the continuing sovereignty dispute.
Background
The Senkaku Islands consist of five small islands and three rocky outcrops covering about 6 km². They lie roughly 170 km north of Taiwan, 330 km southeast of mainland China and 410 km west of Okinawa. Japan surveyed the islands in the 1880s and, finding them uninhabited, formally incorporated them in 1895 as part of Okinawa Prefecture. After World War II the United States administered the islands with the rest of Okinawa until returning them to Japan in 1972. China and Taiwan began asserting claims in the early 1970s after UN studies indicated potential oil and gas reserves in the surrounding seabed.
Geography and geology
- Main islands: Uotsuri (Diaoyu), Kuba, Taisho, Kitakojima and Minamikojima. Uotsuri is the largest, rising to about 363 m.
- Geological origin: The islands are volcanic, composed of conglomerate sandstone, tuff and andesitic lava with coral outcrops. They are part of the larger Okinawa Trough region, which is seismically active.
- Uninhabited: Early 20th‑century Japanese settlers harvested bonito and dried albatross feathers, but no one lives there today. A lighthouse, weather station and radio mast are unmanned.
- Surrounding waters: Rich fishing grounds and potential hydrocarbon deposits make the area economically valuable. The islands also lie near key shipping lanes between China, Japan and Southeast Asia.
Claims and dispute
- Japan’s position: Tokyo argues that the islands were terra nullius (no man’s land) when incorporated in 1895 and were legally returned by the United States in 1972. It maintains continuous administrative control and denies any “shelving” agreement.
- China and Taiwan’s claims: Beijing and Taipei assert historical ownership dating to ancient times, though official Chinese maps as late as the 1950s labelled the islands as Japanese. The 1970s discovery of potential oil reserves spurred renewed interest.
- Current status: China regularly sends coast‑guard and fishing vessels into the surrounding waters to assert jurisdiction. Japan responds with patrols by its coast guard and Self‑Defense Forces. Diplomatic tensions occasionally spike but both sides have avoided military escalation.
Conclusion
The Senkaku/Diaoyu dispute intertwines history, nationalism and resource competition. Managing tensions through dialogue and confidence‑building measures is essential to prevent miscalculations in the heavily trafficked East China Sea. The islands’ tiny size belies their outsized geopolitical importance.
Source: The Hindu · Sasakawa Peace Foundation