A Japanese government spokesman lodged a formal protest with Beijing on Monday (Oct. 5) over China’s establishment of a digital museum of the Senkaku Islands (China’s Diaoyu Islands).
The Japanese government has protested through diplomatic channels to China over the opening of the “Diaoyu Islands Digital Museum,” an official Chinese website dedicated to the subject, and has asked the Chinese side to cancel it, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said at a press conference.
The Senkaku Islands are part of Japan’s inherent territory, which is recognized both historically and in international law,” Kato noted. We maintain effective control over these islands.”
Kato added, “China’s claim to our inherent territory of the Senkaku Islands is completely unacceptable.”
This Web site for China (www.diaoyudao.org.cn), created by China’s National Ocean Data Information Service, opened Saturday. The top horizontal band of the page reads “Diaoyu Islands – China’s Inherent Territory. The site features nine sections: “Natural Environment,” “Historical Basis,” “Literature,” “Legal Documents,” and “Natural Resources. Categories.
The site is currently available in Chinese, English and Japanese, with German, Russian and Spanish versions to be added later.
According to the site, Japan added the Diaoyu Islands to its territory in a secret way in 1872, after the Meiji Restoration.
The issue of the ownership of the Senkaku Islands has been a diplomatic problem for both Japan and China. China frequently sends its coastguard vessels to the Senkaku Islands for duty, and has repeatedly confronted Japanese coastguard vessels.
According to analysts, Japan established a museum in January 2018 to support its position on the Senkaku Islands. China’s move is supposed to be a response to the Japanese museum. Beijing apparently wants to show the international community the evidence the Chinese side has in order to strengthen its position on sovereignty over the uninhabited islands.
The Japanese museum also claims that “historical facts and international law clearly show that (the Senkaku Islands) are Japan’s inherent territory.”
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson has repeatedly stated that the Diaoyu Islands and its dependent islands are China’s inherent territory, and that China’s will and determination to safeguard its sovereignty is unwavering.
However, China’s approach will inevitably prompt the newly appointed cabinet of Prime Minister Kan to strengthen its position on the Senkaku Islands.
Akitoshi Miyashita, a professor of international relations at Tokyo International University, argues that it is inopportune for China to launch the site at this time.
The South China Morning Post quoted Akitoshi Miyashita as saying, “Since Prime Minister Kan Yoshihide took office, both sides have been working to improve bilateral relations, hoping to turn a new page in bilateral relations.”
Prof. Akitoshi Miyashita said, “Kan does not seem to be a very ideological leader, nor does he seem to be a distinctly right-wing leader like Abe. So I think this is bad timing and certainly not helpful for bilateral relations.”
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