Much Ado over Small Islands: The Sino-Japanese Confrontation over Senkaku/Diaoyu

Abstract

The article reports on the confrontation between China and Japan over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands located in the Western Pacific. Japan calls the islands Senkaku while China calls them Diaoyu. It is noted that 14th century record confirms that China considered the islands as important navigational points on the maritime route between coastal China and the Ryukyu kingdom capital at Shuri. In 1879, Ryukyu was unilaterally assimilated by Japan as Okinawa. The fundamental assertions which serve as bases for the Japanese Senkaku claim are cited.