UPSC Prelims 2022 Question:

Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue with Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news?

Learn more about Senkaku Islands in the given explanation below.

Explanation:

• The Senkaku/Diaoyu islands were formally claimed by Japan in 1895 and have been privately owned by a series of Japanese citizens for most of the past 120 years.
• China began to reassert claims over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands in the 1970s, citing historic rights to the area.
• Tensions between China and Japan over the contested Senkaku/Diaoyu islands continue to increase as both countries improve their military capabilities, particularly their radar and missile systems, in the region.
  
  

Japan's Position

• Administrative Clarity: The name change aims to eliminate administrative confusion arising from the similarity between the island's name and a locality in downtown Ishigaki.
• Responding to Chinese Presence: The name change is also a response to China's growing presence in the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands. It is seen as a measure to safeguard Japan's territorial integrity.
• US Support: Japan has a mutual defense treaty with the United States, which mandates US defense of Japan in case of an attack on its territory.
  
  

China's Position

• Territorial Sovereignty: China views Japan's decision as a blatant provocation to its territorial sovereignty. It considers the move illegal and illegitimate.
• Adherence to Four-Principle Consensus: China urges Japan to uphold the spirit of the four-principle consensus, refrain from stirring tensions over the Diaoyu Islands, and take concrete steps to maintain stability in the East China Sea.
• Four-Point Principle: The four-point principle on improving China-Japan ties was adopted in 2014 to foster a mutually beneficial relationship based on shared strategic interests.
  
  

Therefore, option (2) is the correct answer.