In 1972 the US returned to Japan the islands that China claims since 1895. A buoy recalled that the conflict is not over

Year 2018. A buoy appears in the exclusive economic zone of Japan in the Eastern China Sea. The Boya, strategically installed, is near the Diaoyu Islands (Senkaku in Japan), and carries the Chinese “flag”. Since then, the buoys have been multiplying in a clear message to the past. The islands, according to China, They have belonged for centuries.

The historical context. The tensions between China and Japan by the Diaoyu Islands (called Senkaku in the Japanese nation) They date back to the nineteenth centurywhen Japan attached them in 1895 after the First Sin-Japanese War. Later, at the end of World War II, The United States administered the islands until 1972, when it returned them to Japanwhich It generated protests from China and Taiwanthat claim them based on historical records dating from the Ming dynasty.

Not just that. The dispute intensified in 2012 when Japan nationalized some of the islands, causing strong reactions in China, manifestations and deterioration in bilateral relations. Over the years, military presence and maritime patrols in the area have been increasing, with frequent incidents between Chinese and Japanese ships, which maintains the dispute as a voltage focus on East Asia.

The case of the Boya (s) has raised tensions.

A diplomatic gesture in a context with tensions. Last Monday, China withdrew one of the buoys that had placed in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Japan Near the disputed Senkaku Islands, a movement that seemed to be able to pave the path for the summit among the leaders of both countries this year. The Japan Coast Guard confirmed that the Boya, installed in July 2023 within the Japanese EEZ in the Eastern China Sea, It was withdrawn and is now in a new location outside the Japanese jurisdiction.

As we said, The installation of buoys in waters close to the Senkaku is part of a Chinese strategy to reaffirm his territorial claim on the islands, known in the nation as Diaoyu. Tokyo has repeatedly protested against these actionsdemanding the withdrawal of the devices.

What does China say. China’s Ministry of Foreign Relations assured that The buoy had “completed its task on the site”suggesting that his retirement was voluntary and for technical purposes. Beijing argues that these devices They only have hydrometeorological endsand that serve to monitor ocean currents and climate, although analysts warn that the information collected, such as water temperature, could have military applications.

Impact on relationships. The withdrawal of this last buoy is produced in A context of diplomatic approach between China and Japan. In December, the visit of the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Takeshi Iwayaya, to Beijing resulted Treated waters of the Fukushima nuclear plant.

In fact, these gestures are those that have promoted the possibility of a summit between Japanese prime minister, Shigeru Ihiba, and President Xi Jinping, a summit that could be done in May.

And after the retreat of the buoy, more tension. However, the situation in the Eastern China Sea is far from finishing: in the same 2023, ships of the Chinese coast guard were sighted near the Senkaku for 353 days, a historical record. In addition, a few hours ago the Japanese coast guard reported that Four Chinese government boats briefly ventured into Japanese territorial waters. According to Chinese authorities, these operations seek to protect China’s rights and interests in the area in accordance with the law.

There are more. In December 2023, Japan detected a new buoy near Yonaguni Islandin the southwest of its territory, and demanded its withdrawal. Beijing has always rejected demand, insisting that its use is strictly meteorological. The chief secretary of the Japanese Cabinet, Yoshimasa Hayashi, has avoided specular about the reasons behind the retreat of the buoy in the Senkaku, but reaffirmed that Japan will continue to demand the elimination of the one located in Yonaguni.

Distance Japan from USA. Boya’s retreat could be interpreted as an effort from China to improve its ties with Tokyo and at the same time weakens the alliance between Japan and the United States. No doubt, the growing rivalry between Beijing and Washington has intensified after the victory of Donald Trump in the presidential elections, which has led China to search New diplomatic strategies in the region.

Meanwhile, in Washington, Ishiba and Donald Trump held their first meeting last Fridaywhere they reaffirmed their commitment to deal with “Chinese aggression” in the southern and east seas of China. In a joint statement, both leaders They defended the stability in the Taiwan Strait and supported Taiwan’s participation In international organizations. China reacted with indignation, qualifying these statements as an open interference in their internal affairsand presented diplomatic protests against the United States and Japan.

So? In this “Take and Daca” between the two nations, where there is a step forward and then retreat, the distancing seems to be maintained. Although the withdrawal of the buoy near the Senkaku could be interpreted as a gesture of approach between Beijing and Tokyo, the reality in the Eastern China Sea remains marked by the territorial dispute.

The constant presence of Chinese ships in the area and The refusal to remove the buoy in Yonaguni They do not leave many doubts, and suggest that China is still committed to strengthening its control over these strategic waters.

Image | Al Jazeera, GNOLIZXChinese Academy of Science

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