China Orders Japanese Boats To Leave Japan-Held Isles

In another development, China's coast guard ordered a Japanese fishing vessel and several patrol ships to vacate waters surrounding small Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea.

This latest incident underscores the ongoing tensions between the two countries regarding territorial disputes over the Senkakus. I Photo: Philippine Coast Guard

The islands, known as the Senkakus in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese, are at the center of a territorial dispute between Japan and China. China claims sovereignty over the islands, disputing Japan's control over them.

This latest incident underscores the ongoing tensions between the two countries regarding territorial disputes in the region. While Taiwan also claims ownership of the islands, it has signed access agreements with Japan and does not actively participate in the dispute.

China's territorial assertions extend beyond the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, encompassing expansive claims in the Pacific, including the East China Sea and the South China Sea.

These claims, based on historical precedents, are contested by neighboring countries and international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The territorial disputes in the East China Sea highlight the complex geopolitical dynamics in the region, with implications for maritime security and international relations.

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