These Senkaku Islands are an inherent part of the territory of Japan, in light of historical facts and based upon international law, and are under the valid control of the Government of Japan.These Senkaku Islands have lately been under the spotlight, with the Government of China claiming possession of the islands. Regrettably, anti-Japanese protests have occurred in numerous regions in China, resulting in stones and other hazardous objects being thrown at Japanese diplomatic establishments, acts of violence targeting Japanese nationals, as well as arson, destruction and looting of Japanese-affiliated companies. Disappointingly, in the essay of the Government of China published in the 26 October edition of Mmegi, there was no mention of these grave acts of violence committed against the Japanese or any intentions to rectify the situation, which could be considered tantamount to condoning these acts. Under no circumstances should acts of violence be condoned, and differing opinions should be expressed in a calm and peaceful manner.
It is interesting to note, however, that it was only from the 1970s, that the Government of China began to claim these islands as forming part of their territorial integrity. In 1968, the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) conducted an academic survey, which indicated the possibility of the existence of petroleum resources in the East China Sea. It was almost directly afterwards, in 1971, that the authorities of the Government of China first began to make assertions about the territorial sovereignty of the Senkaku Islands.
