Analyzing Japan’s Studies And Claims Of The Diaovu Island Issue

Since China and Japan established diplomatic relations, Sino-Japan bilateral relations has consistently developed and deepened, and cooperation and exchanges have been frequent. Yet the Diaoyu Island issue looms like a potential bomb threatening Sino-Japan relations. China and Japan have long disputed sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands, but in2012, Japan has nationalized a part of the Diaoyu Islands bringing more attention to the issue than anytime in the past. In recent years a lot of Chinese scholars have done many detailed and rigorous studies and have produced many books and essays providing evidence that the Diaoyu Islands have been China’s territory since ancient times. Certainly, the important geographical position and rich resources of the Diaoyu Islands are very precious for Japan, particularly given its resource shortage, so persons in various circles in Japan have produced various arguments and analysis. Although a few Japanese scholars admit that the Diaoyu Islands have been China’s inherent territory through investigation and study, more Japanese scholars have concluded that the Diaoyu Islands have been Japanese territory according to their arguments based on the concepts of "terra nullius" and "actual control." Public opinion in Japan tends to "the right wing" and continuously reinforces the idea that Diaoyu Island’s sovereignty is Japanese own.In this thesis, through a review of a large number of studies and documents from Japan, and a combing and comparing of relevant studies of Chinese scholars, I will draw conclusions about Japan’s positions. The opinion of Japanese academics is complementary with the Japanese government. Therefore, the thesis has summarized the studies and analysis on the Diaoyu Islands in Japan while combining these with current affairs to analyze the change of countermeasures of the Japanese government. In the process it is hoped that it might bring about a greater understand of the Diaoyu Island issue and contribute to the moving forward of friendly relations between China and Japan.