Who owns the Senkaku islands?

First of all, it can be asserted with some confidence that the Senkakus, as Japan calls them, or Diaoyu Islands to the Chinese are not a core interest, historically or otherwise, of Japan but are a relatively recent imperial acquisition dating to its development of a modern blue-water navy that allowed it to project power beyond its coastal waters and colonize Taiwan. A quick glance at a map will persuade an impartial observer that these uninhabited rocks - 100 nautical miles from Kaohsiung but 500 miles away from Okinawa, let alone the Japanese main islands - fall into Taiwan's bailiwick.

Here's what one informed party recently declared:

Japan's arguments are based on a cabinet decision made in 1895 to incorporate the Senkaku Islands within Okinawa prefecture. While the statement is often made that the Senkakus are "Japan's inherent territory", can territory really be called inherent if it has only belonged to Japan for about 100 years?

On the other hand, it is clear from a historical standpoint that China extended military influence over the area around the Senkaku Islands from about the 14th century. China therefore argues that since the Senkakus are part of Taiwan and because Taiwan is a part of China, therefore the Senkakus belong to China.

Because Japan relinquished its territorial rights to the Chishima [Kuril] islands and Taiwan under the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty, China's argument cannot be described as completely baseless, even though there may be a difference of interpretation.

While this may be difficult for the Japanese to accept, they should first recognize that the Senkaku Islands are not Japan's "inherent territory", but a "disputed area".

This analysis was not proffered by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs; it was provided to Asahi Shimbun by one Ukeru Magosaki, who "was a Foreign Ministry diplomat who served as director general of what was then the Intelligence and Analysis Bureau".

This farce is not popular among Japan's foreign-policy specialists, among whom must be numbered its ambassador to China, ex-businessman Uichiro Niwa.

 In fact, Niwa was recalled for consultations to Tokyo because he was on record as questioning the island-purchase scheme and, according to Asahi Shimbun, it was necessary to bring him back to make sure he would loyally and professionally support a foreign-policy gambit he personally considers to be stupid.

The government instructed its ambassador to China to "accurately" convey to Beijing its stance that the disputed Senkaku Islands are Japanese territory and to protest repeated incursions by Chinese vessels into Japanese waters.

The move was intended to send a strong message to China and rein in Ambassador Uichiro Niwa for making comments that do not always reflect the government's position ...

Niwa, who is known for his pro-China stance, had been recalled to Tokyo earlier that day at [Foreign Affairs Minister Koichiro] Genba's instructions in what a senior ministry official described as a "diplomatic gesture".

Genba told Niwa it was his job to accurately relay the Japanese government's position to the Chinese side, sources said ...

Japan's stand is that there is no territorial dispute with China because the Senkaku Islands are part of Japanese territory. Therefore, the government says the question of purchasing the islets cannot be a diplomatic issue.

Genba on July 15 again reminded Niwa to toe the Japanese government's line and not speak out of turn. [4]

Just because someone says it's true doesn't make it so. It's like America claiming they own the Arctic ocean for the simple reason that Alaska shares a common border with said ocean.. Or, that because it's called the gulf of Mexico should control every land which it touches.   

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