Senkaku And Diaoyu Island Dispute Essay

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International Relations theory of “realism” is the most adequate theory to understand the Senkaku/ Diaoyu Island dispute between China and Japan. Realism talks about a State to take decisions for national interests of the State, and I believe that this conflict clearly revolves around national interest of nations and the hunger for power.
The Senkaku/ Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea have been the heart of the dispute between China and Japan for decades. The uninhabited islands cover a total area of seven square kilometers, and lie northeast of Taiwan, east of the Chinese mainland and southwest of Japan’s southernmost prefecture, Okinawa. The disagreement between the ownership of them has simmered over Japan and China for a long time. China claims that the Diaoyu Islands have been under their jurisdiction since the 15th Century (under the rule of Ming Dynasty) and was
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Japan felt secure after Obama affirmed, not only Washington’s support for Japan’s defense, but also stated, “I made clear that our longstanding policy on the Senkaku Islands stands. The United States will continue to recognize Japanese administration of the islands, and as such Article 5 of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty applies.” A few months back, Trump’s strategist Steve Bannon talked about going in war at the South China see in less than five years and added to the combustible atmosphere. However, Japan is being fairly tolerant to avoid giving China an incentive to wage a war. Hence, the “balance of power” theory by realist best applies here. Control over the islands would maximize the nation’s power in the East China Sea through military means. Losing these islands to China means giving the Chinese military the opportunity to take another step forward towards the US and Japan, which would be against the national interest of both

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