Short history of the East China Sea Dispute
Towards the end of World War 2, Japan renounced many occupied territories under a peace deal with America. The East China Sea islands went under the American trusteeship. Later, America returned these islands back to Japan under the Treaty of Okinawa in 1971. In the 1970s, China reasserted its claims over the region of East China Sea which Japan does not accept and hence is a bone of contention between the two countries.
Claims over the territory
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| Chinese President and Japanese Prime Minister Shaking hands |
History has a significant part to play in the East China Sea Dispute with both sides presenting historical facts as legal arguments for proving their stance right. The Chinese version of the East China Sea dispute says that its claim goes back to 1400s when this territory was a hunting point for Chinese fishermen. However, Japan contests Chinese version by saying that there was no trace of such a claim in a survey conducted in 1985 and hence China has no legal basis to claim its sovereignty over the islands.
Taiwan, which China considers its renegade province, also claims these islands on almost the same historical basis as China.
What is the main reason for East China Sea dispute?
Though East China Sea dispute is considered to be a territorial dispute, it has many other things connected with it too. The crux of the issue is the unexplored natural resources available in the area in the form of oil, gas, and fishing. The islands are also located close to some highly strategic shipping lanes. According to many surveys, the area has vast natural resources that are yet to be tapped. The economic value and the strategic importance of the area are the main reason of the brewing political issue.
Reason for recent escalation
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| Chinese Warships sailing across the East China Sea |
East China Sea dispute had not been in the limelight till 2012 when the hardline nationalist governor of Tokyo vowed to buy the islands from the private owners. The Japanese government nationalized the islands by purchasing them from their owners to stop the governor from pursuing his provocative plan. This move drew a significant response from China with the launch of public and diplomatic protests. As a reaction, the People’s Liberation Army Navy ships and aircraft have regularly sailed across the islands.
American role in the East China Sea Dispute
Japan, an ally of Germany, lost much of its territory towards the end of Second World War under a treaty with America in 1951 in San Francisco. Diaoyu/Senkaku went under the America control which later returned it back to Japan after the agreement of Okinawa as mentioned above. Under the agreement, America and Japan went into such a strategic partnership that US forces will provide security to the Japanese in the case of any foreign aggression.
Though the United States of America has no clear stand on the claims to the East China Sea, it has stated that its armed forces would defend Japanese territorial integrity under any attack. Barack Obama on his visit to Japan in 2014 clearly indicated that the security of these islands falls under US-Japan security pact.
What is ahead?
The East China Sea dispute has not got the attention it needed due to other raging conflicts in the neighborhood but is no smaller a dispute. The nationalization of the islands by the Japanese government and the movement of Chinese warships across these islands can trigger a major conflict at any time. The joint patrols of US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson and Japanese warships in the region have also been taken very negatively in Beijing. Military exercises and naval power shows are no solutions to the East China Sea dispute; all the parties need to take steps to resolve the issue peacefully and amicably.
About Muhammad Asim
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