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Chinese coast guard vessels enter disputed waters in East China Sea

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Correction:

The word "inhabited" in the last paragraph should be: "uninhabited".

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Let me post the following screed just for your information, to clarify why the island chain is called the Senkakus in Japan, but Diaoyudaos in mainland China. 

It was Chen Kwan(1489-1538), an accredited Chinese royal envoy during the Qin Dynasty who came to Ryukyu in 1534 to crown a king under a tributary system. It was he who first documented the name Diaoyudao in his "Emissary's Record of Ryukyu", a document and a travelogue he submitted to the Chinese Emperor. (See Nobuo Harada: "The Senkaku Islands: Reading Chinese Emissary's Documentation of Ryukyu Kingdom."

Apparently, he had Ryukyu seamen aboard the same tributary ship explained the detail about the island chain. In the local vernacular, the island was called either Yukun or Iigun meaning "fish place orisland". The /yu/ or /ii/ in these words mean "fish"; /kun/ or /gun/ is a suffix usually attached to place names, as in 阿波根 /ahagun/, 比屋根 /hiyagun/, 手登根 /tidukun/, 宮国 /mya:gun/, etc. You know the waters around the island have been known to this day.as rich fishing grounds

Chen Kwan must have thought of the famous historical site of Diaoyucheng back home in China when he heard about the description of the island's name from accompanying Ryukyu seamen and so recorded it as Diaoyudao after this famous historical site 

The Japanese name "Senkaku" apparently came from the English "Pinnacle Islands" as the islands were known to the crew of the HMS Samarang, that launched an exploration of the baren island group after they had heard from Ishigaki islanders about the existence of a group of uninhabited islands located northeast of Ishigaki Island. The island group appeared to the crew members to be no man's land. 

There is a lot of room for speculation about the origin and history of the island's name. One thing is clear, though. That is, no one can lay claim to the inhabited islands solely on the basis of Chen Kwan's description of the island chain.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Taiwan and Japan were quite happy to share the fishing around there before.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Look at the line of islands.

Diaoyu in not connected. Totally separate. Much closer to Taiwan which is China.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

"Go on Google maps, see where these islands are then tell me how you think they are "Japanese".

All I had to do is copy/past someone else's on Google:

"The Senkaku Islands belong to Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture, and are located approximately 170km north of Ishigaki Island and 150km north of Yonaguni Island. The Senkaku Islands are also situated approximately 170km from Taiwan and 330km from China."

Moreover, at 160 Km there's the Yaeyama's, a constituent part of Japan.

Not that geographical proximity matters in relation to sovereignty issues but China is definitely not closer than Japan already is.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Go on Google maps, see where these islands are then tell me how you think they are "Japanese".

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

What problem will such bickering solve? it's like a childish game of tag.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

What problem will such bickering solve? it's like a childish game of tug.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

China steals everything if they could have their way every island out there they would claim is China.

You have to fight to get them back. Look at the Northern Territories. China is giving Japan a good lesson on how to reclaim lost property.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Japan claims Terra Nullius on the Senkaku’s: Hey look no one’s here. It’s ours.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

If Japan backs down China will militarize them and the guns will be pointing at Japan. China steals everything if they could have their way every island out there they would claim is China.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Japan just lifts the islands from China and claims it. China should do the same.

China sees no evidence of human habitation and will claim it to give Japan a good taste of its own medicine.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The same? China is testing, ratcheting, trying to change the status quo all around the edges.

And telling others to 'Be careful!' Cheeky!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Every time, same as usual for decades.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Stephen ChinToday  02:44 pm JST

Why must Japan & China always be against each other? Having a war? Or quarrelling over two small pieces of rock, useless to either China or Japan?

Do you really not know? Japan is not making any claim on Chinese territory.

The Chinese dictatorship under Xi Jingping's rule is hell bent on military and territorial expansion at the expense of it's neighbors. That's why.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

China seems intent on provoking Japan militarism. This could lead to a draft and permanent base on that island.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

the Chinese said that 100% there will be war, give your answer

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Stephen Chin

Well basically, simply put, one is a peace loving democracy, with a constitution devoted to peaceful coexistence with its neighbours and the other....................isn't

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Why quarrel over two pieces of sharp, hard rock? Turn them into holiday resorts! One by the Japanese! The other by the Chinese! And the next year the Japanese take over the Chinese holiday resort! And the next year the Chinese take over the Japanese resort! And every body will be happy! In the sun!

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Stephen ChinToday 02:44 pm JST

Why must Japan & China always be against each other? Having a war? Or quarrelling over two small pieces of rock, useless to either China or Japan?

Why? Why? Why?

Why did China have to crush Hong Kong and seek to crush Taiwan?

3 ( +6 / -3 )

deanzaZZRToday 03:28 pm JST

From a strategic/military perspective Senkaku/Diaoyu is insignificant. Given the US attempted stranglehold on the PRC since the 1950s it is imperative that China incorporates the Province of Taiwan as China's new "unsinkable aircraft carrier" in the Pacific. Cause and effect. The US should look in the mirror from time to time. It's therapeutic.

You like to think that China is powerful, but in fact it is just another sick man of Asia.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

From a strategic/military perspective Senkaku/Diaoyu is insignificant. Given the US attempted stranglehold on the PRC since the 1950s it is imperative that China incorporates the Province of Taiwan as China's new "unsinkable aircraft carrier" in the Pacific. Cause and effect. The US should look in the mirror from time to time. It's therapeutic.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Why must Japan & China always be against each other? Having a war? Or quarrelling over two small pieces of rock, useless to either China or Japan?

Why? Why? Why?

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

NCIS Reruns, simply/eloquently stated in a single bite sized sentence.

I do like to kick the Chinese government hornets nest, to hammer a point home.

Xi Jinping won't stop until he has total command over everything he surveys.

Land sea and air.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The islands are strategic in the sense that a military presence there can flank U.S. and Japan forces on Okinawa. China will need to control them if they plan to encircle Taiwan ahead of an invasion.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Heck appeasement, not appraisement, if one is going to rant at least check the spelling grammar, well, saved someone pointing that out.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Quite obviously Chinese territory, Japan should be careful.

That falsehood remains just that, no matter how many times it is spoken.

Quite obviously Japanese territory, China has no legitimate or legal claim to it.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

This whole government of China claim to "a group of disputed islands, known as Senkaku" is a crude cynical game of political semantics, façade the dictatorship of China weaponizes, leverage's to assert miliary control over the entire region.

East and South China seas, all shipping/trade routes, essential for the Global community as a whole to breathe, to openly bring a prosperous future for all.

Xi Jinping insane crazy despot world, the slow strangulation, a noose around the regions people the government/people of Japan necks.

Hong Kong, Taiwan, one nation after another, the fortified sand castles. The genocide, every aspect of freedom our forefathers gave/sacrificed their lives to protect, cannot, must never be so frivolously recklessly given away to tyrants in act of appraisement.

It is long overdue that the government of Japan develops a deterrent offshore.

However Japan political ageing elite are a shadow of past honourable warriors, present day these foolish old men have succumbed to incompetence in office.

Sorry, slovenly, entitled, bumbling, distracted, sometime dysfunctional.

Japan possesses a bureaucracy that breathes a life of its own, plodding ingrained sloppy unmanageable, refractory in its nature to govern confidently.

An open door to Xi Jinping despotism totalitarianism to kick open.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Quite obviously Chinese territory, Japan should be careful.

-12 ( +4 / -16 )

That China (PRC) is a late comer to this issue is evidenced by Chinese (PRC) maps from the 1960s showing the Senkaus to be Japanese territory, part of Okinawa.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Hello Kitty 321Today  11:12 am JST

@OssanAmerica

They were owned by China, Japan only claimed them in the lead up to the invasion of Taiwan. Japan. They should have been returned to China after the war,

That's an interesting fairytale narrative however totally factually incorrect.

The Senkakus were never owned by China, under any name. Taiwan was not an "invasion" it was an annexation handed over by the Qing Dynasty to Japan through the Treaty of Shimoneseki on April 17, 1895.

In that Treaty the Qing Dynasty ceded Taiwan, the Pescadores and Liaodong Penninsula to Japan. The Senkakus were not included.

They were not included because neither the Qing Dynsasty nor Japan considered them to be Qing territory. Japan had surveyed the Senkakus, found no evidence of human habitation much less any Qing presence, and having determined them to be Terra Nullius, incorporated them as Japanese territory on January 14, 1895. This incorporation was done in accordance with international law and recognized by all nations. The Qing Dynasty raised no objection.

Taiwan, the Pescadores and the Liandong Penninsula were rightfully returned to the Republic of China now Taiwan) at the end of WWII. The Senkakus were "not handed to the ROC" because they were not theirs to start with, and even if they were, they were not taken by war since 1914, (See Cairo Declaration).

Taiwan made a claim to the Senkakus because of fishing resources. China usurped this claim in 1971 originally claiming it was for resource rights, but today wodely recognized as a strategic move to bfreak the First Island Chain. Taiwan and Japan settled their issue by a fishing rights agreement. Only China (PRC) continues to try to take the Senkakus.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

So many people are telling Japan what they need to do. Build bases on the islands. Being in actual possession of the islands makes a huge difference. Japan owns them, paid for and titled. Build on them and reduce the belligerence of China after an initial media barrage.

Has China even offered to buy them off Japan? Nope, not even a Chinese meal voucher at some local Chinese restaurant.

China doe little by established rules. It simply takes from others what it wants, by first building a huge maritime militia, Coast Guard and Navy, and pushing others physically out as it has done in Philippines and Vietnam. It builds bases to solidify illegal claims and unless Japan builds on the Senkaku islands, it is only a matter of time before China will.

Japan has had a long time to realise and to build, but has so far squandered its advantage. If it looses control to China, through China building on the islands, Japan will have only itself to blame for not having done so itself, in the years that it has had ample opportunity to do so. Man up Japan!

6 ( +9 / -3 )

@hello kitty 321

They were owned by China, Japan only claimed them in the lead up to the invasion of Taiwan. 

China claims to own everything based on historical records but never provides evidence.

Even in an international court of territorial disputes, their claims were ruled baseless, they refuse to accept the ruling. China has no shame!!

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/03/17/national/politics-diplomacy/foreign-ministrys-1969-china-map-identifies-senkaku-islands-by-japanese-name/

https://ryanscoville.com/2014/02/28/an-old-map-of-the-senkaku-diaoyu-islands/

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Chinese Coast Guard. Go ahead. That's a lose lose for Japan and worth the loss of one coast guard ship.

Sink the CCP ships.

-11 ( +0 / -11 )

Hello Kitty 321Today 11:12 am JST

@OssanAmerica

They were owned by China, Japan only claimed them in the lead up to the invasion of Taiwan.

I believe some sources are in order that they were owned by China. Appearing on a map is not the same as ownership, despite what the CCP would have you believe.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Edit above, "International Law?"

1 ( +4 / -3 )

They are not just rocks. If they were, the Chinese would not be trying to take them.

Wild animals will circle, looking for an opportunity to take any food that is laid out. What will keep them away?

Inernational law?

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Sink the CCP ships.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

@OssanAmerica

They were owned by China, Japan only claimed them in the lead up to the invasion of Taiwan. Japan. They should have been returned to China after the war, but America was using them for bombing practice, and when they did come to hand them over, they had become ant-China and so gave them to Japan. Under Prime Minister Tanaka Japan agreed to shelve the problem of ownership and everything was fine until the American rightwing think tank, Heritage Foundation, got the mayor of Tokyo to upset the balance.

-17 ( +1 / -18 )

OKuniyoshiToday  09:02 am JST

If you stop parroting America's foreign policies/geopolitics,

How is Japan affirming ownership rights they've had since 1895 parroting anything? Bearing in mind htey were not owned by anybody before then.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

The Chinese vessels should be arrested and detained. China is pushing and pushing for a confrontation in simple bully behavior.

If China respected the rule of law, they would bring a complaint to the ICJ and settle their caim in a civilized manner. But they won't.

13 ( +18 / -5 )

If you stop parroting America's foreign policies/geopolitics, it will be very, very easy to talk/negotiate with them. Welcome outcome, for both.

-21 ( +3 / -24 )

Japan needs some form of permanent presence and deterrent on the island otherwise China will take no notice?

15 ( +18 / -3 )

The disputed Islands Dioyu & Senkaku are just useless pieces of rock. Why does Japan not re-name the sea West Japan Sea and let China call it East China Sea? So these useless of rock can belong to Japan or to China?

-21 ( +0 / -21 )

It's a dangerous game not building something on those islands: you are basically assuming you will have more ships than China there at all times.

11 ( +20 / -9 )

Japan lacks the hairy kintama needed to sink some of those pirates. They wouldn't dare that trick with the USA...

-11 ( +4 / -15 )

Chinese own the islands so nothing the weak japanese could do anyway

-27 ( +8 / -35 )

Go ahead fleetwood77, tell us what will happen.

-13 ( +6 / -19 )

Sink one of the Chinese boats , stand back and see what happens!

15 ( +21 / -6 )

Pathetic limp-wristed weak Japanese response!

The only thing the #CCP Chinese understand is force!!

Deploy ships to the islands, build a military base there with loads of soldiers and vessels!

And when the #CCCPChinese vessels invade Japanese waters, fire warning shots and threaten to sink them!

THAT is the only thing the Communist aggressors will understand and listen to!!

16 ( +25 / -9 )

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