Abstract:China claimed sovereignty over the uninhabited Senkaku Islands, which are validly controlled by Japan, for the first time in December 1971, only after the 1968 United Nations geophysical survey discov...China claimed sovereignty over the uninhabited Senkaku Islands, which are validly controlled by Japan, for the first time in December 1971, only after the 1968 United Nations geophysical survey discovered the potential for undersea petroleum reserves. China argues that the Senkaku Islands have always been part of Chinese territory and that they appertain to Taiwan historically. Through an extensive review of historical materials and recent analysis, the author pinpoints the weakness of the Chinese argument. The Japanese position is also reviewed in historical context. The chapter closes by recommending that Japan need simply to maintain valid control, in light of similar cases in international law.Read More