CHINA-JAPAN:SQUABBLE OVER SENKAKU ISLANDS

Victoria Brown's quote "When you focus on the small steps, bigger steps automatically happen" holds true for China's claim over the Senkaku Islands. Senkaku Islands are located in the East China Sea and are an uninhabited group of islands which are under the control of Japan and since decades China is involved in a squabble with Japan over these islands. These islands are located in the east of China, northeast of Taiwan in the south of Japan. Senkaku Islands are known as Diaoyu Islands in China and Diaoyutai Islands in Taiwan. The cumulative area of these islands is 7 square kilometres and they comprise 5 individual islands and 3 reefs. The 5 islands forming part of Senkaku Islands are Minamikojima, Kitkojima, Kubashima, Taishoto and Uotsurishima. China claims that these islands were discovered by them in the 14th century and hence they rightfully belong to them. Japan annexed these islands from China in 1895 during the First Sino-Japanese War. In 1945 after USA defeated Japan during World War II, these islands came under the US control. In 1969 the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East identified the area of these islands as potential oil and gas reserves. In 1971 under the Okinawa Reversion Treaty, USA returned these islands to Japan in 1972. The dispute over these islands began soon after Japan regained control over these islands and in 1972 both Peoples Republic of China (PRC) commonly called as China, and Republic of China (ROC) commonly called as Taiwan, staked claim over these islands sensing the immense economic potential of these islands. However, Taiwan has not vigorously progressed its dispute over these islands with Japan the way China has, because Taiwan and Japan are both close allies of USA and Taiwan fearful of an invasion by China anytime would seek help from Japan and South Korea which are located closest to it. Both Japan and South Korea are major US naval bases too. Japan has outrightly rejected the claims of China over these islands saying that prior to 1885 these islands were never part of China. Senkaku Islands have great economic and strategic value as apart from having oil and gas reserves, they lie close to important shipping lines and offer rich fishing expanses which includes the highly popular Bonito fish. April 2012 saw anti-Japanese protests in China over Senkaku Islands ownership. Though these protests were quelled but the simmering continues. Naval warships of both China and Japan are frequently seen near Senkaku Islands. On April 23, 2013 eight Chinese ships entered the 12 nautical mile territorial zone of these islands thus leading to scrambling of the Japanese fighter aircrafts. In December 2014 China started building a military base in Nanji Islands which are close to the Senkaku Islands and in April 2015 Japan deployed military troops and military radars in Yonaguni which is a mere 150 kilometres from Senkaku islands. In May 2015, the US Secretary of State John Kerry stated that in case of Japan being attacked, USA will come to their aid further electrified the issue of Senkaku Islands. As China continues to flex its muscles over dominance of the seas around it, the squabble of Senkaku Islands will continue to escalate in the times ahead. Bill Luther's prophetic quip holds true in the squabble for Senkaku Islands "It's almost inevitable there's going to be an escalation on both sides".

Lt Col JS Sodhi (Retd) The writer who retired from the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army is an alumnus of NDA, Khadakwasla and IIT Kanpur. He is a M.Tech in Structures has also done MBA and LLB and is a prolific writer and a public speaker. He Tweets and Koos at @JassiSodhi24. The views expressed are personal.