Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue with Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news?
AIt is generally believed that they are artificial islands made by a country around South China Sea.
BChina and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in East China Sea.
CA permanent American military base has been set up there to help Taiwan to increase its defence capabilities.
DThough International Court of Justice declared them as no man's land, some South-East Asian countries claim them.
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in East China Sea.
Answer: B. China and Japan have a maritime dispute over the SENKAKU ISLANDS in the East China Sea.
The SENKAKU ISLANDS (called DIAOYU ISLANDS by China and DIAOYUTAI by Taiwan) are a group of uninhabited islands in the EAST CHINA SEA, currently administered by JAPAN as part of Okinawa Prefecture. They are claimed by both the PRC (China) and Taiwan.
Key dispute features:
- Japan formally incorporated the islands in 1895 (Meiji era) after surveys showed them uninhabited.
- Returned to Japan along with Okinawa in 1972 under the Okinawa Reversion Treaty with the United States.
- China asserts historical claim from Ming dynasty records, intensified after 1968 UN seabed surveys suggested oil/gas reserves nearby.
- Japan nationalised three of the islands in 2012, triggering Chinese coast guard incursions that have continued routinely.
- US has stated that the US-Japan Security Treaty (Article 5) applies to the Senkakus, meaning the US is treaty-bound to defend them.
Distractors:
(A) Wrong — Senkakus are NATURAL islands, not artificial (the artificial-island reclamation is by China in the South China Sea, not East China Sea).
(C) Wrong — no permanent American military base on the Senkakus.
(D) Wrong — ICJ has never adjudicated the Senkakus; no SE Asian state claims them.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan / Indian MEA East Asia briefings.
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