In 1885, despite knowing full well that the Diaoyutais belonged to China, Japan claimed that there were no clear signs of Qing rule there and erected a national marker there to signal its intention to annex the islands. But after the Qing court discovered the situation, Japan had to put off the annexation. In January 1895, Japan took advantage of its victory in the First Sino-Japanese War and made secret plans to occupy the Diaoyutai Islands. These plans were not publicly announced. After the end of the Second World War, the Diaoyutais came under US administrative control along with Okinawa.
Disputes over sovereignty came to the fore in the 1970s after experts from the United Nations predicted the presence of large quantities of oil and gas in the East China Sea.
In 1972, the United States handed Japan administrative authority over both the Diaoyutais and Okinawa to Japan, but also stated that this handover was in no way prejudicial to any party’s claim of sovereignty.
In terms of both geography and natural features of the earth, the ROC has a much stronger claim than Japan to the Diaoyutais.
President Ma Ying-jeou has publicly called upon the United States on many occasions to remain neutral on the issue of sovereignty over the Diaoyutais, as this would be conducive to a resolution of the dispute.
The ROC has always defended its sovereignty and fishing rights while seeking a peaceful resolution to the dispute and pushing for joint development of the area’s resources. Back during the Japanese colonial period, Japan described the Diaoyutais as an important fishing ground for Taiwanese fishermen. The ROC government does not recognize Japan’s nationalization of the Diaoyutais, and hopes the Japanese side will make good on its promise not to obstruct the fishing activities of Taiwanese fishermen.
Scholars have pointed out that if conflict in the East China Sea is to be avoided, parties must choose to work for a peaceful resolution to the dispute over sovereignty in the Diaoyutais. And the location of Taiwan is strategically significant, which affords us an opportunity to actively mediate between the parties. Beijing, Tokyo, and Washington would be well advised to take serious note of this fact.
Disputes over sovereignty came to the fore in the 1970s after experts from the United Nations predicted the presence of large quantities of oil and gas in the East China Sea. In 1971, the United States indicated its intention to hand Japan administrative authority over both the Diaoyutais and Okinawa, but also clearly stated that this act had no bearing upon the issue of sovereignty. Even so, the handover sparked a fierce wave of protests throughout the world in defense of ROC sovereignty over the islands. In Taiwan, students from National Chengchi University (left) and National Taiwan University (right) on June 17 demonstrated outside the embassies of the United States and Japan, and took part in a protest march on the streets of Taipei.
During the Ming dynasty, Japanese pirates ravaged the southeast coast of China. In 1561, Zheng Ruozeng showed the Diaoyutai Islands in his Coastal Defense Map. The next year, Hu Zongxian, then minister of defense and the commander-in-chief, included the Diaoyutai Islands in the Coastal Territories Map as part of the Compilation of Maps on Managing the Sea, thereby incorporating the islands into the defense system for China’s southeast coast.
Disputes over sovereignty came to the fore in the 1970s after experts from the United Nations predicted the presence of large quantities of oil and gas in the East China Sea. In 1971, the United States indicated its intention to hand Japan administrative authority over both the Diaoyutais and Okinawa, but also clearly stated that this act had no bearing upon the issue of sovereignty. Even so, the handover sparked a fierce wave of protests throughout the world in defense of ROC sovereignty over the islands. In Taiwan, students from National Chengchi University (left) and National Taiwan University (right) on June 17 demonstrated outside the embassies of the United States and Japan, and took part in a protest march on the streets of Taipei.
The Executive Yuan issued a directive in 1971 declaring that the Diaoyutais were under the administration of Yilan County.
On June 15, 2008 the Global Bao-Diao Alliance dispatched a fishing vessel to go to the Diaoyutais and declare ROC sovereignty over the islands. A ship from the Japan Coast Guard blocked the way, creating a tense standoff with the two ships in dangerously close proximity.
During the Ming dynasty, Japanese pirates ravaged the southeast coast of China. In 1561, Zheng Ruozeng showed the Diaoyutai Islands in his Coastal Defense Map. The next year, Hu Zongxian, then minister of defense and the commander-in-chief, included the Diaoyutai Islands in the Coastal Territories Map as part of the Compilation of Maps on Managing the Sea, thereby incorporating the islands into the defense system for China’s southeast coast.
The Japanese government recently set off a firestorm of protest in Taiwan, mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao after it “nationalized” some of the Diaoyutai Islands. To signal Taiwan’s determination to defend “every single bit of rock and soil” on the islands, the ROC Coast Guard on September 13 dispatched vessels to patrol the vicinity and show their intention to protect Taiwanese fishing vessels.
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A flotilla of fishing vessels from the port of Su’ao in Yilan County set out on September 25 under Coast Guard escort to challenge a blockade of the Diaoyutais by the Japan Coast Guard. The fishermen succeeded in breaking through the blockade and entering Diaoyutai territorial waters. For the first time ever, ROC Coast Guard ships returned the water cannon fire of Japanese ships, and warned them to withdraw from ROC territorial waters. The flotilla did not achieve their goal of circling the islands, but the fishermen were jubilant: “This worked out better than we’d even expected.” Morale was high, and local residents set off firecrackers at the docks as the ships returned to Taiwan in the wee hours of the morning.
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