UN to consider validity of China's claim to disputed islands

Tensions over the uninhabited islands — located near rich fishing grounds and potentially huge oil and gas reserves — flared after Japan's government purchased them from a private Japanese owner in September, sparking violent anti-Japanese protests across China and a military standoff.

Taiwan also claims the islands, known as the Diaoyu islands in China, the Senkaku islands in Japan and Tiaoyutai in Taiwan.

In a submission to the U.N. Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, China says the continental shelf in the East China Sea is a natural prolongation of China's land territory and that it includes the disputed islands.

Under the U.N. convention, a country can extend its 200-nautical-mile economic zone if it can prove that the continental shelf is a natural extension of its land mass. The U.N. commission assesses the scientific validity of claims, but any disputes have to be resolved between states, not by the commission.

China said the “Diaoyu Dao upfold zone” — the islands — is located between the East China Sea shelf basin and the Okinawa Trough. “The Okinawa Trough is the natural termination of the continental shelf of (the East China Sea),” it said.

China also told the commission that it was still negotiating with other states on the delimitation of the continental shelf.

“Recommendations of the commission with regard to the submission will not prejudice future delimitation of the continental shelf between China and the states concerned,” said the executive summary of China's submission published on the commission's website.

The commission said consideration of China's claim would be included in the provisional agenda of a meeting of the body due to be held in New York from July 15 to Aug. 30.

In a letter to the commission, Japan's U.N. mission argued that China's submission should not be considered.

“There is no doubt that the Senkaku Islands are an inherent part of the territory of Japan in light of historical facts and based upon international law. The Senkaku Islands are under the valid control of Japan,” it said.

SHARE CLOSE
Blogger		Google+
Live Journal		Plurk
Stumble Upon

Tweet

	PREVIOUS ARTICLE
	Obama & Clinton to give joint TV interview to air on Sunday

NEXT ARTICLE
France follows UK, others in Benghazi exodus

4 Comments

Submit Your Comment

January 26, 2013    bibotkngo57@

Reply

China is using with the UN particularly the UNCLOS arguing it is a natural part of its territory while rejecting the Philippine UNCLOS claim that the scarborough reefs is a natural part of Philippine territory. What a hypocrite China is!

January 27, 2013    rooster19@

Reply

This is the historical evidence, and we all know that during the Downhill of Ching dynasty, a lot of treaties had been signed unequally. I think US govt. has a lot to answer for the confusion and injustice, since they gave back to the wrong owner. They got a lot of cleaning to do. But instead they let these people fight and scramble, and act as though they have nothing to do with it. I hope they will come out from their shell and confess what they have done, since no one dare question them post world war 2.

January 30, 2013    yaludefend666@

Reply

So China uses the EEZ against Japan while they refuse to consider PH fighting on the same manner...

Totally civilized move China...I take my hat off to you.

January 31, 2013    ludahai_twn@

Reply

@rooster19 - What makes you think the US gave them back to the wrong owner? They weren't part of China to begin with. As for whining about unequal treaties, isn't that what MOST treaties signed between a winner and a loser are?

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email

Submit