China Claims Dokdo as Japanese Territory, Senkaku as Chinese Territory (Comprehensive)

China Releases Diaoyudao Investigation Report... Japan Will Pay the Price in Diaoyudao Dispute
Japan Repeats Unjustified Claims of Dokdo as Its Sovereign Territory in Diplomatic Bluebook

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] The Chinese government has released a report on the topography of the Senkaku Islands (Chinese name Diaoyudao), which are currently under Japan's effective control. Chinese media had previously warned of the possibility of military clashes among China, the U.S., and Japan in Diaoyudao.

China's state-run Xinhua News Agency and Global Times reported on the 27th that the Ministry of Natural Resources of China has made public a survey report on the topography and geographical characteristics of Diaoyudao Island and its affiliated islets at the Diaoyudao Digital Museum. The report, available in eight languages including English, Japanese, Spanish, and Arabic, contains information about the island's topography and the water depths surrounding Diaoyudao.

Photo of Diaoyudao (Japanese name Senkaku Islands) = Captured from the Diaoyudao Digital Museum, China

Regarding the recent disclosure of the topography of the Diaoyudao archipelago, Chinese experts emphasized that it reaffirmed once again that sovereignty belongs to China, not Japan.

They also stated that the publication of the survey results is not merely a scientific investigation but a political and diplomatic signal reaffirming that sovereignty over Diaoyudao belongs to China, including to Japan and the United States worldwide.

Professor Li Haidong of the Institute of International Relations at the China Foreign Affairs University explained, "Japan is colluding with the United States to distort international consensus and claim sovereignty over the Diaoyudao archipelago," adding, "Diaoyudao is an inalienable part of China's territory, and this Chinese survey report was released to build international consensus."

Ryu Jang-yong, deputy director of the Institute of International Relations at Tsinghua University, said, "Recent actions by Japan are seriously damaging China-Japan relations," and added, "The Japanese political circles are providing incorrect information to Japanese people who do not understand the essence and truth of the issue." He further warned, "The Japanese political circles' words and actions that provoke disputes over Diaoyudao will ultimately only lead to increased tensions between the two countries."

Chinese experts warned again that if a conflict arises between China and Japan over the Diaoyudao issue, the likelihood of the United States assisting Japan is low, and if Japan provokes in the waters surrounding the Diaoyudao archipelago, the People's Liberation Army Navy as well as the Air Force will demonstrate China's resolve.

A map of China created in Britain in 1801. China claims that Diaoyudao (Japanese name Senkaku Islands) is included in Chinese territory on the map. Photo by China Diaoyudao Digital Museum capture

Chinese media expressed strong hostility toward Japan and the United States, stating that the joint U.S.-Japan statement released on the 16th reaffirmed Japan's administrative rights over Diaoyudao and that the area falls under the jurisdiction of Article 5 of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty.

Earlier, in February, the Chinese government amended and implemented the Coast Guard Law to allow the maritime police to use force against foreign vessels in waters under Chinese jurisdiction.

The Diaoyudao Digital Museum in China opened during the National Day holiday last October. The Chinese government exhibited historical materials such as records showing that the name Diaoyudao was first used during the reign of Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty in 1403, documents from the Qing Dynasty managing Diaoyudao, and historical materials (maps) published in 1579 and 1629 indicating that Diaoyudao is part of Chinese territory.

In particular, they openly expressed displeasure toward the United States, stating that although Diaoyudao and other Chinese affiliated islands were returned to China after World War II under the Cairo and Potsdam Declarations, the U.S. arbitrarily transferred jurisdiction over Diaoyudao to Japan in 1952.

Meanwhile, Japan included the baseless claim that Dokdo is "Japan's inherent territory" in its official government document, the Diplomatic Bluebook, on the same day. It also continued to assert the name "Sea of Japan" for the East Sea.

This year's Diplomatic Bluebook significantly strengthened expressions to check China, mentioning China's human rights issues. It expressed "concern" over the human rights situation in Hong Kong and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and claimed that China's maritime activities in the East and South China Seas are strong security concerns for the region and the international community, including Japan.