Why Senkaku Islands are Japanese, and not Chinese Diaoyu

Protesters are yelling loud and damaging Japanese shops in China in protest against Japan over the Senkaku Islands, or what they call Diaoyu islands. But is their stance valid? The history says No.

The Senkaku Islands are the territory of Japan historically and in terms of the international laws. In 1885, the Government of Japan conducted thorough field surveys, and confirmed that the Senkaku Islands had been uninhabited and not under the control of the Qing Dynasty of China. Based on this confirmation, Japan officially incorporated the Senkaku Islands into its territory in 1895. The process that the Government of Japan followed is valid under the international law (prior occupation of no man’s land).

Koga Tatsushiro, an entrepreneur from Okinawa Prefecture, made an application for the lease of the islands, which was approved by the Japanese Government in 1896. He developed the uninhabited islands and ran various businesses such as manufacturing dried bonito and other marine products, without any interference / protest by anybody. This is one example showing Japan’s valid control over the islands.    

After the World War II, the Senkaku Islands were placed under the administration of the United States as part of Nansei Shoto Islands in accordance with Article 3 of the San Francisco Peace Treaty, and were returned to Japan in 1971. 

China never protested against the sovereignty of Japan over the Senkaku Island until after 1968 when a survey found an underwater oil field around the Islands, with estimated deposits of over 100 billion barrels. China never disputed even when the islands came under the administrative control of the US. On the contrary, up to that point, it recognized those islands as Japanese territory: for example, an article of the People’s Daily issued on January 8, 1953 described Senkaku Islands as part of Okinawa.  

This is one of so many issues where mass of people protest loudly and violently yet without grasping the historical facts. It seems rather obvious that there is no point in advocating passionately if we stand on the wrong base?   

The following blog explains the issue in a very simple, straightforward way. Though it was written almost 2 years ago, it sounds so true today :
http://www.kyle.cn/?p=724 

The following video "5 Reasons Why the Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands are NOT Chinese Territory" analyzes various historical records:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gnlr_OBN2uw