JAPAN’S CONCERNS WRT SENKAKU ISLAND
- Incident: Japan raised concerns over the longest intrusion by Chinese Coast Guard ships near the Senkaku Islands.
- Duration: Chinese ships stayed in Japan’s waters for 92 hours, leaving on March 24, 2025.
- Escalation: Japan’s Foreign Minister called the situation “clearly escalating” due to the increasing frequency of Chinese ships in Japanese waters since March 21, 2025.
DIPLOMATIC REACTIONS
- Japan’s Response: Japan raised concerns during a meeting between Japanese and Chinese Foreign Ministers on March 22, 2025.
- The meeting was friendly but Japan criticized the timing of the intrusion as “regrettable.”
- Opposition Criticism: Japanese lawmakers criticized the intrusion, calling it “extremely inappropriate.”
GEOPOLITICAL CONTEXT
- Senkaku Islands Dispute:
- Known as Diaoyu (China) and Diaoyutai (Taiwan).
- Uninhabited but important for fishing, oil, and shipping lanes.
- Japan administers them, but China and Taiwan also claim ownership.
- S. Involvement: The dispute is central to tensions between China and the U.S., with Japan being a U.S. ally.
- Japan’s Position:
- Japan maintains no agreement with China on shelving the issue.
- Japan remains firm, handling the situation with “resolute and calm” determination despite growing tensions.
KEY FACTS ABOUT SENKAKU ISLAND
- Location: East China Sea, 90 nautical miles from Japan’s Yaeyama Islands, 120 nautical miles from Taiwan.
- Other Names: Diaoyu (China), Diaoyutai (Taiwan), Pinnacle Islands (international).
- Geography: Includes Uotsuri Island, Kuba Island, Taisho Island (total land: 6.3 square km).
- History: Japan incorporated them in 1895, and they are part of Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture.
Ongoing Dispute: Territorial Claims: Disputed between Japan, China, and Taiwan, driven by historical, political, and resource-related factors.
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