Tensions between China and Japan

An article featured in the September 9th issue of the Financial Times highlights the ongoing territorial disputes between China and Japan.

The dispute centers around a group of islands, known as the Senkaku to the Japanese and the Diaoyu to the Chinese. The pretext is the seizure of a Chinese fishing vessel and the subsequent arrest of its captain.

A number of protesters appeared outside the Japanese embassy in Beijing calling for the release of the captain.

The issue comes down to who was operating where. The Japanese claim that the fishing vessel was operating illegally in Japanese waters and collided with Coast Guard vessels during their attempt to stop the ship. The Chinese dispute whether the real case is reversed, and the Japanese coast guard vessels were operating illegally when they stopped the vessel.

Whether China's naval growth and the dispute over the group of islands will cause further tensions between the Asian neighbors is yet to be seen, but it can be said that more attention should be paid to the relations between them.


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