The Senkaku Islands

I know I just updated yesterday, but something has been in the news for a few days now, and I haven't reported on it, so I felt I should acknowledge it here. Some of you may have heard of the recent problems with China and Japan. If you haven't, I'll try to enlighten you here. There are a group of islands called the Senkaku Islands by Japan and the Diaoyu Islands by China. They're south of the Ryukyu Islands in Japan and located in the East China Sea. For people a little lacking in their geography, no worries, here's a map: Senkaku Islands Location.

These islands were never really a problem in the past. Japan acquired them through the treaty at the end of the First Sino-Japanese War from China. During that treaty, China handed over Taiwan and the surrounding islands to Japan. At the end of World War II though, Japan was forced to give Taiwan and other territories it had acquired from China back to China. Therefore, China claims that the islands are actually part of China.

Japan claims that they have been controlling the islands since 1895 though, and since the islands were uninhabited up until 1895, they are therefore under Japan's control. Since Japan had already made the islands into Japanese territory prior to the return of Taiwan to China, Japan argues that they were not included in the prior treaty and that they are part of China.

Taiwan also makes a claim on the islands, but for simplicity's sake, let's just stick with Japan and China for now.

So, we have China and Japan both claiming the islands. Before the 70's, there was no conflict over the Senkaku Islands. In 1969 though, it was announced that there was possibly oil on the islands, and suddenly the dispute broke out. This is also history though. The recent reason for the problem has arisen due to a recent Chinese fisherman who decided to go to the islands. Since he was in what Japan considered its waters, Japan arrested him. Before managing to arrest the fisherman though, he had run into two Japanese Coast Guard boats. The fisherman and his crew were arrested on September 7. Japan released the crew and the boat on September 13. However, Japan refused to release the fisherman.

China of course became angry and demanded the fisherman's release. Japan refused, stating that it was a domestic incident. China then took a dramatic move that no one here expected them to take. They suspended all rare earth exports to Japan indefinitely. By rare earth, we're talking precious metals here. Japan, kind of needing those, was still trying to contain the fisherman, but decided to finally release him. China resumed the exports within two days. However, relations are continuing to sour. The fisherman is being heralded as a hero in his country, and both China and Japan are standing strong.

China is demanding an apology from Japan and stating that if they receive their apology, they will ignore the entire incident. They are also asking for Japan to help pay for the damages to the fisherman's boat. Japan, on the other hand, is asking for an apology and requesting that damages be paid to the Coast Guard's boats. Japan, really wanting to expand trade in China is definitely feeling pressure, but I don't think it's likely that they will give in easily. China is trying to exert its power, so they also will not give in easily. It's really like two little kids arguing over something trivial, but at this point, nothing can be done.

I bring all of this up though because 1. This is going to mark how foreign relations proceed from this point between China and Japan. And 2. It has started to affect the student population. 1,000 Japanese students were supposed to go to China for some sort of world summit. Everything was set, and they were ready to go. This summit is in 2 weeks. About 2 days ago though, China decided to revoke all of their visas. At this point, it is not known if the students will be able to attend the summit or not.

We'll see what happens from here, but at the moment, things aren't looking good.

Michelle