Failure to manage the row over a detained ship captain could mean both countries lose out over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands.
Tensions in the current spat between China and Japan keep rising. On Sunday, China’s senior diplomat, Dai Bingguo, escalated his country’s dispute with Japan over the arrest of Zhan Qixiong, the captain of a fishing boat that collided with two Japanese Coast Guard ships on Tuesday.
The Japanese authorities have charged the boat’s captain with deliberately ramming the two Japanese ships after refusing either to leave the area or allow them to inspect his vessel. After a Japanese court on Friday authorized a ten-day extension of Zhan’s detention, Dai summed the Japanese ambassador to China, Uichiro Niwa, and urged the Japanese government to avoid ‘misjudgements’ and find a ‘wise political resolution’ to the crisis by releasing Zhan.
The collision, which didn’t result in any casualties, wouldn’t have attracted so much attention if it hadn’t occurred near disputed islands (referred to as the Senkaku Islands in Japan and the Diaoyu Islands in China) in the East China Sea. China. Japan and Taiwan all claim sovereignty over the uninhabited islands, which are located west of Japan's Okinawa island, east of China's south-eastern Fujian coast and northeast of Taiwan.
Yet the ongoing dispute is less about the actual islands than the East China Sea itself. In addition to rich fishing areas, the ocean seabed is thought to hold large deposits of oil and natural gas (estimated at over 100 billion barrels of oil and 7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas), which make it a tempting prize for both energy-poor Japan and energy-hungry China.
According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which entered into force in 1994, a country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extends 200 nautical miles from its shoreline. In addition, a country’s EEZ can extend to the outer limit of the continental shelf that the country sits on if that outer edge is less than or equal to 350 nautical miles from the country’s shoreline. Unfortunately, the treaty’s language is unclear when discussing which countries have access to certain islands, such as those in the East China Sea.
The sovereignty dispute over the East China Sea concerns a body of water that separates eastern China from the southern islands of Japan. At its broadest point, the East China Sea is only 360 nautical miles wide; at its narrowest point, it is only 180 miles wide. The potential problems with such a scenario are clear.
However, despite the obvious overlap between the EEZ of China and of Japan, the Chinese government claims an extremely large area of the East China Sea through its Law of Natural Prolongation. China asserts that its EEZ extends all the way to the Okinawa Trough, which is located just off the Japanese coast, with Chinese representatives arguing that the Trough doesn’t follow the Japanese coastline very closely. In the eyes of the Chinese, this proves that China and Japan are not located on the same continental shelf, and that China’s Law of Natural Prolongation therefore applies. In addition, Chinese representatives cite the use of the islands by Chinese fishermen since the fifteenth century to bolster their ownership claims.
Photo Credit: National Land Image Information
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spring man
I am Chinese, but you know more than I do
SimonSays
I would be inclined to support China on this issue given that this is an issue remenant of Imperial Japan, but the problem is China’s other disuptes.
China is claiming islands right in front of the Malacca Strait (I think it is called) in the South China Sea, clearly a lot further away than every other country surrounding it. Chinese fishermen are waltzing into Korea’s part of the Yellow Sea, with no regard for borders, territory or the law.
And these are just the nautical disputes.
Magnus T.M.
Japan has territorial disputes with Korea, China, Taiwan and Russia.
Japan’s neighbours are Korea, China, Taiwan and Russia.
In the last 100 years, Japan has invaded Korea, China, Taiwan and Russia.
It’s all China’s fault.
SE962582C
So had the then Soviet-Union towards China in the years 1924 to 1945.
So had China towards both Viet-Nam and the modern Lao-Laos in the year 1945.
So had China towards Korea in the year 1951.
So had China towards both India the Hindustan and Bhutan in the year 1964.
So had China towards both Viet-Nam and the Lao-Laos in the years 1979 and 1988.
Xie Wen
Of course the Chinese suffered hurt at the hands of the Japanese and others. But it’s obsessive nurturing of these hurts is as much worrying as it is cynical. It has created generation after generation with the “Bruce Lee syndrome”. From Bruce Lee’s “Fist of Fury” in the 1980s to Donne Yan’s “Ip Man” 2010, it is a broken down record of a Chinese hero beating up every white “devil” and (even worse) japanese “devil” in sight. Single handedly, thrashing hundreds of them, restoring national pride amidst stiring nationlistic music. Cynical because this is then played up and even orchestrated/exploited by a government that finds it convenient to distract the people from the abuses of power and corruption at high levels in the Chinese bureaucracy/power structure. Worrying because it is building up a nation with the power of 2011 and the grievances of 1941. In other words, an angry superpower with a huge chip on its shoulders and many grievances against these foreigners who should be kungfu-ed into the bloodied, quivering mess they are potrayed, at the end, in all these wildly popular movies. The Chinese have been good students of Japanese history. Hence their refusal to be flattered and/or bullied into massive currency appreciation ala Plaza Accord 1985. They should now be good students of Japanese history and avoid the aggressive and ultimately tragic rise of japanese nationalism. How can China expect an intelligent non-Chinese mind to believe in its “peaceful rise” when it rams “fishing vessels” into japanese coast guard vessels and then proceeds to abuse and threaten the japanese into releasing the captain of the “fishing vessel” and then staging violent anti-Japanese demonstrations even after having bullied the japanese into submission? How many would there have been at the Chongqing riots living out their Bruce Lee fantasies? To paraprhase a recent media article, if this is how China behaves with a GDP one third of the US and military budget one seventh that of the US, imagine how it will behave when it hits parity.
cabdriver
The more I hear folks argue about small parts of the planet, the more I wonder if the UN might have a useful role [I dont know Intl. laws here but the concept of an Open-city comes to mind]. I can’t imagine major conflicts over a couple of islands or Jerusalem ect. I think it was Einstein that said Mankind needed to change his thinking. How much further would mankind be if we stopped using all these resources to destroy rather than to build? Chalk me up as another ignorant optimistic American. Its like watching 2 family members fighting, in the end they’re still gonna be family members, but what about the time & effort lost/wasted?
Mr obvious
China goes off on a tangent over this spat. What about all the innocent Vietnamese fisherman in the South China Sea? They are arrested for illegitimate reasons and are held for ransom. What do you Chinese people have to say to that? Nevermind. Please do not. You will provide the most illogical reasons based on your growing economic and military bullishness, I mean historical claims. I guess all of Europe will belong to Rome/Italy based on historical facts. Oh did I forget to mention the Chinese killed millions and invaded many countries during all those dynasties? Oh nevermind! China and the Chinese are innocent. If China dethroned the US in political clout and economics, I’d rather die than to follow the ignorant, illogical, etho centric people. If you want to be a global leader act like one. If you want to be the richest, than stop stealing IP and don’t offend your biggest customer, the almighty USA.
David
Come on Uncle Sam. You have fresh Iraqi and Afghanian bloods on your hands, not to mention the Vietnameses killed by Agent Orange. What more of the same? There is a long list.
natcaasi
Nonetheless he does make a good point that using history to attempt to give one’s argument credence in this particular circumstance is a tricky proposition. By that line of reasoning how far back in history should one go …. take this extreme case … can the Chinese provinces start claiming sovereignty based upon the Feudal states of Ancient China(prior to unification)? Would that even make a tangible case in court?
On another note, i wonder how today’s borders came to be. From my perspective it is from who was last in control (usually militarily) of the disputed territory. So if say nation A’s dominion receded over the years from a particular territory then said nation would have lost all rights to said territory until it retakes/retook it by force … but that said, in today’s world, retaking anything by force is frowned upon … right? (That window sort of closed since the second war world ended)
James
Mexico just observed its unjust defeat by the USA in 1847.
This conflict was engineered by the USA. Mexico was a much weaker country.
As a result it lost half its territory to its bullying neighbour.
This lost territory include California, Arizona and Nevada.
The USA also has the distinction of being the only country to have taken the lives of more then a million civilians in wars that it started and waged since WWII.
God Bless the almighty USA……a grim reaper of lives destroyed and taken in the name of collateral damage, coined to sanitised its sin.
Charles
Hey Mr. Obvious,
China has to act like which ‘global leader’ you say? Oh you mean the US! The current sole Superpower’s miltary machine is in Afghanistan and Iraq, without the mandate of the UN, the last I recall. Well then, China’s got a long way to go. It would have to start probably many more wars to play catch-up with the US so that it can be ‘wise’, ‘logical’, ‘global’…wait ‘global’? Hang on…what do the ‘Tea Party’ people want most? Hint: definitely not ‘Globalization’…
‘Stop stealing IP’ you say? Then how about if the world stopped using gun powder, paper, printing and the compass…wished the Chinese back in Imperial China had thought of the IP…why hey, let’s start paying US$1000 for an I-phone from today and start buying those fuel guzzling automobiles from Uncle Sam, just so the Americans can get their jobs back, let’s all chip in to help the US out of its own mess!
While the dispute over the Diaoyutai is a historical baggage between China and Japan, and can better be resolved through better communication between the two, it’s kind of ironical (and to mention irritating and laughable) when Japanese demonstrators (like at today’s APEC in Yokohama) accuse the Chinese of being ‘imperialistic’ over Diaoyutai. I usually root for the underdog in any conflict, but with Nanjing Massacre and Japan’s brutal military past still vivid in my mind, I kinda NOT feel sympathetic to the Japanese, nor any empathy for Hiroshima and Nagasaki for the matter…I guess if Japan actually objectively acknowledged it’s role in the Second World War like the Germans did, I would have stayed neutral…
Lastly, the US is no doubt China’s biggest customer and not to mention, also China’s biggest ‘debtor’ too…and the US isn’t exactly very aware of the old adage: ‘Never bite the hand that feeds you’.
nonbeliever
The unfortunate thing is that the and this incident only make Japan and the Japanese LOOK BAD, LOOK SILLY and LOOK WORSE, since and especially that being simply Japanese and the Japanese mean living with Enemies, of one form or another, all across the World and of the Globe;
mareo2
Ironic mode on: “Yeah… we japanese are shaking in fear thinking that millions around the word are planing terrorists attacks against us.” Ironic mode off. Once Japan was ruled with censorship of the media, only one politicla party, xenopohic, paranoid, looking down on other countries, militaristic and threatening. Just like China today.
indian
As per the Chinese the whole world belongs to them. China is the only country in this world that has territorial disputes with all its neighbour.
nyc resident
Indians, stay classy! It’s a game between two East Asian big shots.
You feed your family first!
Bay Area resident
Nyc resident,
By that logic, China should immediately give up all claims to the islands and feed its poor.
The poor peasants who are bottom feeding on the Yellow river also have major issues with getting food. I doubt Japan has any problems on that front.
Stammy
Indian,
Why are you commenting on this? This has nothing to do with India. It’s an issue between China and Japan. Come on man, your hatred of the Chinese really shows through.
Taking it too far
@Stammy
Hatred? He just mentioned his opinion. And India or Indians are not the only ones that think China is bullying them. Why look at India? Look closer to your more Immediate neighbors.
Also, this is an open forum. What does his being an Indian have anything to do with whether he can comment or not. What kind of logic is that?
David
India has disputes with Pakistanis, Nepalsese, Burma, China. This is a full circle around India.
Alex
Actually it is the Chinese who are abetting and aiding anti-India elements in Pakistan, Nepal, & Burma top keep a check on India. Who are you kidding mate. Chinese have encircled India and want them to keep busy in these regional affairs while China becomes the unchallenged Asian bully.
Burmese
When I was in Burma, Chinese government was and still is stealing, robbing, threatening and bullying Burma and when I moved to Japan, they are doing or at least trying to do the same thing to Japan as they do to Burma. Where shall I move to stay away from all those rubbish?
As a citizen of Burma, I won’t say Chinese public is responsible for all these rubbish. But at least we know our government is bad and I want to say ‘Open your eyes’ to Chinese public that your government is endeavouring to face your anger to others. The real enemy is neither japan nor Korea nor India nor U.S nor South East Asian countries, It’s your communist government.
Truth
The Diaoyu Islands have been recorded in Chinese historical documents as Chinese territory since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Japanese Government, however, regards them as a part of the Okinawa prefecture, which was under the independent Ryukyu Kingdom until 131 years ago. China had friendly relations with the Ryukyu Kingdom for about 500 years, before Japan annexed it. And more importantly, China was the first to discover and name the islands Diaoyu.
16.There are records about the islands in a book published during the reign of Ming Dynasty emperor Yongle (who reigned from 1403 to1424), more than 400 years before 1884, when Japan claims to have discovered the islands.
17.The Diaoyu Islands have been part of Chinese territory since ancient times, and China enjoys indisputable sovereignty over them. This is not only the Chinese Government’s stance, but also the conclusion of Japanese historian Kiyoshi Inoue.
18.In the Historical Facts of Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Islands, published in 1972, Inoue says that historically the Diaoyu Islands belong to China. He emphasizes that before Japan’s encroachment, the Diaoyu Islands were not terra nullius but China’s territory.
19.Before Japan began the Meiji restoration in 1868, no documents could be found in that country or the Ryukyu Kingdom that mentioned the Diaoyu Islands without citing Chinese documents.
SE962582C
The Islands are not that, THAT, Chinese or Japanese to start with anyway and anyhow; as otherwise, give me and one and name a Chinese or a Japanese person THAT ARE ACTUALLY BORN upon (ON) the Islands.
The unfortunate thing is that the and this incident only make China and the Chinese LOOK BAD, LOOK SILLY and LOOK WORSE, since and especially that being simply Chinese and the Chinese mean living with Enemies, of one form or another, all across the World and of the Globe;
And I do and one does struggle to find and to locate a single non-Chinese Foreign National-level political leader that would actually, and openly, support China and the Chinese, over the Japan and the Japanese, upon this issue, affair and matter; and not even Cuba, Cambodia, Burma-Myanmar, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, the Sudan, Iran-Persia, Tajikistan or North Korea the DPRK.
Japan and the Japanese are actually rather and pretty harmless comparing with some certain other ones, even with the Philippine Islands.
nonbeliever
And I do and one does struggle to find and to locate a single non-Japanese Foreign National-level political leader that would actually, and openly, support Japan and the Japanese, over the China and the Chinese, upon this issue, affair and matter; and not even Cuba, Cambodia, Burma-Myanmar, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, the Sudan, Iran-Persia, Tajikistan or North Korea the DPRK.
SE962582C
Right or Wrong, America the United States, and by
And by extension, with Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, New Zealand and Korea the South Korea the Republic of Korea, if not also with the Republic of the Philippine Islands and with Siam-Thailand as well,
BACK and BACKS, by Military Mutual-Defence/Defense Treaty and/or Agreement, Japan and the Japanese, at the End of the Day, and this and that is all you need and are required to know.
nonbeliever
China and the Chinese are actually rather and pretty harmless comparing with some certain other ones, even with the Philippine Islands.
SE962582C
This is and/or these are indeed Chinese and/or Han-Chinese Ultra-Nationalism in the Extreme, as reflected by the immediately-aforementioned Statement, where Reason and Reality no longer apply or in play so much, if at all.
Stammy
Ok so why do the Chinese look worse? Why not the Japanese? Both are tussling over these islands yet YOU choose to say the Chinese look worse. Why? Give me one good reason.
John
Stammy,
China looks worse because it is trying to claim territory that is already controlled by Japan. It has been for 100 years and so the current claim and control by Japan nullifies Chinese claims based on issues over a century ago.
The world has to deal with that issue or it opens up a can of worms where no borders or controlled territory is safe from claims and counter claims. Armenia might as well divide Turkey, Greece might as well be destroyed.
China isn’t supporting International law and order, its throwing it out because it considers itself strong enough to now demand issues. The UN was designed to prevent issues such as these becoming violent, to provide international discussions and judgements that prevent potential violence.
China needs to clarify its position and also understand other nations support for International rules and adjustments. The world is not divided just into the weak and the strong. Even the strong can be pulled down by many if they band together. China should not be giving other countries reason to think this might be needed.