Latest News:  

English>>World

Japan seeks to 'nationalize' islands

By ZHANG YUNBI (China Daily)

08:14, July 16, 2013

With an Upper House election looming this weekend, the Japanese cabinet plans to strengthen territorial claims on hundreds of remote islands in the East China Sea, observers said.

Tokyo will "nationalize" some islands that have no private owners shortly after a survey of islands is completed in 2014, leading Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun quoted an unnamed government source as saying on Monday.

The Japanese government plans to establish a task force to research the ownership and names of around 400 islands, a move described by Agence France-Presse as an attempt to bolster Japan's territorial claims.

The latest move is designed to establish more reference points in territorial waters, and if the islands' ownership is unclear, the government will officially name and nationalize them, the newspaper reported.

Wu Hui, an international law expert at the University of International Relations in Beijing, said if part of these islands falls into the scope of territorial disputes, other countries may lodge serious protests.

"Moreover, a unilateral move to nationalize islands will raise questions over the legitimacy of such a move."

China-Japan relations were greatly damaged after Tokyo illegally nationalized part of China's Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea in September.

As far as Tokyo is concerned, nationalizing controversial remote islands is part of legislative preparations for further claims, Wu said.

The island survey was announced shortly after the Japanese defense authorities indicated that they may "guard and retake" remote islands, analysts said.

【1】 【2】


We Recommend:

U.S. presidents and their pets

Highlights of 50th Int'l Paris Air Show

Best photos of week (June 17 - June 23)

Venezuelan Army School boat visits Cuba

Afghan refugees at UNHCR registration center

Beauty contest held in Budapest, Hungary

Angelina Jolie visits refugee camp

'Super moon' hangs in the sky over Rotterdam

LA' Chinatown sets up statue of Bruce Lee

Email|Print|Comments(Editor:YaoChun、Liang Jun)

Leave your comment0 comments

  1. Name

  

Selections for you


  1. Female soldiers in China-Russia joint drill

  2. Lady officers complete Basic Air Borne course

  3. Best photos of week (July 8 - July 14)

  4. 9 young giraffes find new home in Qingdao

  5. San Francisco crash survivors come back home

  6. Daily life in central China county

  7. Highlights of global stewardesses' uniform

  8. Charming beauties at Super Model Contest

  9. History of China's auto industry

  10. Migrant workes' high incomes not that rosy

Most Popular

Opinions

  1. China's economic growth slows to steadier pace
  2. Why the customer remains the king
  3. Going mobile is the key to business success
  4. Drone strikes only serve to help anti-Americanism
  5. State must control capital: Justin Yifu Lin
  6. Chinese economy not to take hard landing
  7. RMB becomes more market-oriented: official

What’s happening in China

Migrant workes' high incomes not that rosy

  1. 8 killed in rainstorm in NW China province
  2. Bus ticket dodgers may find credit list is next stop
  3. Buyer beware: expo can be wedding crushers
  4. Nanjing gears up for 'luxury' cabs
  5. Looking for relationship without sex