China and Japan’s Territorial Dispute Explained

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China and Japan have been arguing over the Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands for decades now - but with broader tensions between the the countries rising, the islands are becoming a greater point of tension.
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[@jakubwijata5457]

You also have to factor the Extended Economic Zone (EEZ) these islands provide, as well as their geopolitical significance in maritime trade in case of a western blockade of the disputed China sea.

[@hijodelsoldeoriente]

This is what I am thinking as well. That in itself is a vital strategic, economic, and military value.

[@DOSFS]

I didn't sure about the second one. It is still in the first island chain and too close to other Japanese island within its missile range. Plus its too rocky for port.

[@Hudute]

@@DOSFS its also located closer to China than the actual "blockading chain", so yeah, that argument does not work for Senkaku

[@Feefa99]

And rising sea levels and total area of 18 islands (collectively 200 ha). I say let's ocean keep islands.

[@slic3y68]

they are uninhabited i don't think they qualify for a EEZ

[@rmar127]

No military value???? The very existence of these islands has significant value. For if they weren’t there, then the maritime routes through the area would be much larger. But with the islands there, commercial and military vessels are forced to go around them, thereby making tracking them that much easier.

[@MrJuanmarin99]

That military value doesn't change if they belong to one or another. Controlling them don't give you an advantage.

[@nataliamundell6266]

​@@MrJuanmarin99ok so with out saying anything about geography how is the us so successful Geography does give you a advantage so yes having the islands is an advantage

[@bbbb98765]

It's already easy to track shipping. The islands don't appreciably help with that

[@tomlxyz]

​@@MrJuanmarin99the advantage is that the sea around it can be claimed by the country who owns it which in turn can force the other countrys military and civil ships out of it if it likes to

[@wothin]

​@@MrJuanmarin99it does though. What are you on about

[@TK199999]

Odds are the Chinese would put military bases on the islands. Even if they have to build them to make them capable.

[@kamelkadri2843]

aye

[@schwenke069]

For sure. Some kind of radar and a missile launcher ... even if non functional. It's the thought that counts.

[@weshuggie]

Chinese military bases on the islands would never happen, they are inherent cowards who know that they are lying and totally in the wrong!

[@mitchie2267]

Japan is an occupied US military base.

[@williamlloyd3769]

What makes you think China wouldn’t’ use landfill and modify a couple of the islands to build runway, harbor and other facilities that match what is installed on South China Sea reefs? Building an airbase or two would certainly give China a tactical advantage with regards to Taiwan and US / JMSDF forces stationed on Okinawa.

[@aidan11162]

Building on already expediting reefs is one thing. Building in deep water with violent weather patterns is quite another

[@miguelmiramon1505]

They will probably be underwater in a few decades. It's not that easy

[@thegamingwolf5612]

You can't just build anywhere lol

[@williamlloyd3769]

@@aidan11162- Looking at islands on Google earth and a nautical chart, at least two of these islands are large enough to be modified. BTW airports at Hong Kong, Seoul and Osaka all illustrate what you can do if you are willing to throw money at a problem.

[@Feefa99]

Those "unsinkable aircraft carriers" are already sinking, just think about famous speed run of chinese products and their quality and apply it to islands. In several incoming decades you can count even rising sea levels. There's nothing valuable so why waste military budget on it.

[@MonaLisa-fy4hg]

I would argue its more about maintaining containment/island chain on Japans end while China wants to try really hard to break that chain

[@nataliamundell6266]

You're not wrong

[@Emilechen]

the question is, US can contain China insides this island chains for how many years? 1 decade? half a century or several centuries? unless the US can remain the sole superpower in the world forever, unless, China breaks these chains is just a matter of time, during the History, China has patience, they have experience to spend several generation's effort to achieve finally a decisive geopolitical goal,

[@Emilechen]

@@chinachickensoup3796 it is too hard for the US to contain a industrial giant like China so near to its doorstep for very long time, US dominate the entier Pacific Ocean and don't even let China to take back Taiwan and control South China Sea, it is possible for long term? how many resources the US need to invest to achieve this goal? not just in oceans, US also need to contain China on Moon and even Mars...

[@nataliamundell6266]

@@chinachickensoup3796 it's is a Pacific nation, not saying it's right or wrong just they do have an interest in the Pacific

[@Dakarai_Knight]

​@@EmilechenWell considering china's reliance on oil imports and other key components/ materials the goal would be to deplete china's reserves until they can not fight anymore. At that point hopefully there can be a peace agreement without any bloodshed. The malaca strait specifically is extremely important to china's oil imports.

[@DennisTheInternationalMenace]

Japan can always pull a China and artificially expand them and turn them into military islands.

[@westrim]

There's really no potential for that. They're basically mountain peaks surrounded by fairly deep water, not at all like the artificially augmented islands in the relatively shallow waters of the South China Sea. They could be flattened, but not significantly expanded.

[@dennisestradda9746]

@@westrim call it a near China island 😂, like Chyna does with the Artic

[@isaacisaac2380]

@dennistheinternationalmenace; Actual, it’s the other we around. It’s Japan who started to turn coral reefs to isles years ago. Look at the map to the east of Taiwan. They sneaked in and stealthily building those coral reefs a long long time ago. And look at what Philippines did to change West Pacific to Philippines sea. Maybe we will change the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of Texas.

[@loot6]

Ironically only China would actually do that if they got control of them.

[@dippyboi1029]

i love this channel i watch it while doing mapping, its so informative and entertaining

[@cl8804]

your maps have been part of china since ancient thai ming

[@bikkiikun]

Geologically, they are part of the Ryukyus, and Japan is the only country that has actually ever settled and administered them. Just because they show up on old Chinese maps, doesn't make their claim any more believable. Also, if we want to talk about Chinese Maps "proving ownership", we should point out that they show up as Japanese territory and under their Japanese names on Official Chinese maps thoughout the 1950ies. So... this we have, at the very least, a strong case of Estoppel, i.e. losing your claim because you obviously don't care about them. As for the "strategic value", there's the Economic Exclusion Zone (fishing rights, etc.). And China has already shown, that they'd build airfields and other military installations and thus very close to bases in Okinawa, Japan and Taiwan. Also raising the risk of an accidental shooting war. And additional point, as you explained, would be that China would likely try to dig up more ,"hitherto unseen maps" to introduce more claims.

[@miguelmiramon1505]

This. Honduras has lost Islands to El Salvador precisely because they didn't claim sovereignty in almost a century while El Salvador was administering the islands. There's not a real case for China here to claim Senkaku islands according to International jurisprudence.

[@nicholasthompson2308]

don't notify the english 💀

[@OurLordandSaviorSigmar]

I would also like to include that under international law, historical basis is not a mode of acquiring ownership over territory. As you mentioned, China keeps digging up old maps which do not have any legal value. For obvious reasons, "historical basis" was excluded, because it would open up a whole host of legal issues. If we follow China's logic, Germany could claim Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Czech Republic and parts of Italy, for the simple fact that all these were at some time part of the Holy Roman Empire, Confederation of the Rhine, and Second Empire, to which Germany is a successor of.

[@netiturtle]

Country that declared itself near-Arctic and forced himself into Arctic council, while being on mediterranean latitude, builds artificial islands to grab a large sea, doesn't need legitimate claim. Same country is also a "developing nation", has Universal Postal Union subsidize its exported packages etc. While being wealthier not only per nation, but by capita, than few European countries. And has advanced space program. Etc etc

[@yuvrajshah1158]

if China’s “historical maps” were enough evidence to claim the islands, then the UK could pull out maps of the British Empire and demand all the territory back.

[@notusneo]

They actually belongs to Albania 🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱

[@scifino1]

Actually, the Japanese gifted these to German PoWs after WW1, because they got along so well.

[@MrPoKe007]

Tbh it isn’t fair as the whole planet earth actually belongs to Albania, they just didn’t claim it yet

[@denis2381]

​@@MrPoKe007GayAnalDildo

[@MrPoKe007]

Me and china have a territorial dispute over my living room Pray for me guys

[@samuela-aegisdottir]

I have teritorial dispute over my kitchen with my dirty dishes. They are occupying my territory.

[@DanskerneFraDanmark]

i do i own them

[@KonradvonHotzendorf]

Can confirm

[@lincabe321]

It's true I sold them to you

[@JenniferA886]

Ok, do you have any future plans for your islands?

[@50shekels]

How could anyone possibly dispute they're not an integral part of the Danish realm! 🇩🇰 🇩🇰

[@DanskerneFraDanmark]

Lmao thank you all for making my day a bit more fun today

[@theconqueringram5295]

That's the thing about disputes. Countries would dispute any territory regardless if it has any value or not for weird reasons.

[@eman6254]

The dashed line at 2:49 implies that Miyakojima and the Yaeyama islands are under dispute as well, but I don't think China is actively trying to claim these? They have been inhabited for millennia and were part of the Ryukyu Kingdom for centuries and incorporated into Japan a few decades earlier than the Senkaku islands along with the rest of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

[@tomlu6820]

The soverignity of japan over the ryukyu is also questionable, China and former USSR, both did not accept the treaty of san fransico or the return of ryukyu to japan.

[@adelalmohtaseb5261]

@@tomlu6820 Well at the end of the day even if the USSR or China don't accept the treaty they are still unable to take them .

[@bikkiikun]

@@tomlu6820 : If anything the Ryukyus should be independent, but neither part of China and even less the USSR. Also mind you, the Americans offered the Ryukyus to Chiang Kai-Shek, who repeatedly refused to lay claim to them. The most he envisioned was joint occupation, followd by UN trusteeship. In the end, it's up the people living there, and despite their many many misgivings with the Japanese government, the Ryukyuans largely consider themselves part of Japan, albeit with a distinct culture. There actually is an independence movement, but with a broad spectrum of how they view "independence", ranging from regional self-governance within Japan to full independence and neutrality (like Switzerland, or the old maritime republics of Venice and Genoa). Actual independence has almost no popular support. The largest support would be for self-governance in the realms of culture, environment and economy... because that's where the largest head-aches are (apart from Futenman Air Station).

[@KinLee919]

We Chinese support ryukyu independent

[@kwesikwansakennedy2196]

​@@KinLee919I support Taiwan independence 🌚

[@dotz7616]

The responses are interesting, unfortunately the report wholly misses the perspective of the island chain strategy, in which the islands could be a critical part.

[@kaitoshinichi]

Pretty sure PRC has absolutely no rights to these claims

[@SomeoneFromBeijing]

China’s claim is as valid as, if not more valid than Poland, Lithuania, and Russia’s claim over East Prussia. The Axis accepted an unconditional surrender, that’s the end. And if you don’t see the PRC and the successor to the WWII era ROC, these island should be handed to Taiwan (they still claim they are the ROC, at least officially).

[@kasugaryuichi9767]

@@SomeoneFromBeijing OK wumao

[@SomeoneFromBeijing]

@@kasugaryuichi9767 Me: These islands belongs to Taiwan. You: this is a clear indication that you support the CCP.

[@BurchellAtTheWharf]

5:58 the island disput is about gaining or losing area for conduct fishing

[@larrylouie]

Not related to the topic, is the videos from TLDR beginning to have low volume? It is hard to hear if you're not using headphones. Or is it just me?

[@selcovoilucian8253]

There is no dispute, it's japanese

[@akaichacha]

it would be funny if Japan decide to either give or divide island to Taiwan instead of china

[@adelalmohtaseb5261]

You know Japan still claim the island of Taiwan lol

[@miguelmiramon1505]

Maybe if Taiwan becomes formally independent, but right now that would be the same that giving it to China, because Japan formally considers Taiwan a part of China

[@KinLee919]

Japan don't have foreign relationship with taiwan (just like most other countries in the world, cus taiwan is not a real country) therefore Japan government can't sign any document with taiwan local government, therefore Japan can't give any territory to taiwan.

[@SomeoneFromBeijing]

Funny thing, no matter how much Beijing and Taipei hate each other, they’re really united when it comes to their territorial disputes with Japan. There’s no way Japan will just hand the islands to Taiwan. A couple years ago, a bunch of Taiwan activists landed on the island, and they brought two flags- 🇨🇳 and 🇹🇼.

[@novemtigris3041]

Taiwan claims these islands as well so I'm sure it'll be happy to take them

[@50shekels]

If the islands were really Chinese then how come there isn't a "made in China" logo on them

[@Strange1781]

Nice one 😂

[@weshuggie]

But there are actual photographs taken in the 19th.c showing Japanese fishermen and the Japanese national flag on the island.

[@justskip4595]

Your claims that they have no civilian or military significance are so very wrong. China has been building artificial islands for military purposes for a long time and there is no reason to think they wouldn't do it too in this area. Also for civilian purposes the islands extend exclusive economic area of the nation that claims them. This is like saying that Gibraltar doesn't have any value for UK and the disagreements between Spain and UK over it are meaningless.

[@me0101001000]

This debate over who owns these gosh darn islands... I'm sure this won't cause anyone TO DIE

[@greekandbulgariangamertv8633]

I get that reference

[@drifter2198]

That is the best reference ever

[@knight1506]

little known facts: China has claims with every neighbors, including their allies Russia

[@currentaf8455]

They have strategic value. They can be a breach in the island chain.

[@theFirstAidKit]

Chinas claim to the islands sounds about as valid as if Mongolia claimed that they own all the lands Genghis Khan conquered back in the day because they have an old map with the area clearly drawn. If the islands were owned and given to Japan after WWII and China didn't dispute it at the time, it's a bit late now.

[@Emilechen]

China is one of the 5 major winners of the WWII, so giving back Manchuria, Taiwan and other islands to China is a decision made by the allied nations, published in Cairo and Postdam declaration, neither Mongolia nor Japan are WWII winner, such is the difference,

[@Harz604]

Precisely that’s why even Taiwanese government (aka republic of China) is in dispute with Japan over it. It sure taiwan isn’t ACTIVELY disputing it with Japan because they have common foe but if this wasn’t the case (or if the ccp never took over China and the Taiwanese government still governed China as republic of China) they would also be having the same dispute with Japan

[@Emilechen]

@@Harz604 because current Taiwanese government is ruled by DPP, an independentist political party, their grandpa have been collaborators of Imperial Japan, such is the case of the family of president Tsai, who helped the fascists to repair warplanes to kill the allied force, they are unable to defend the territory of Republic of China, in the past, they were unable to resist Japanese invasion, then they lost Mainlnd to the Communists, today in order to get independence, they will not hesitate to sell out other territories of Republic of China, this kind of regime is weak and coward, but very preferred by the US, if entier China is ruled by them, Chin would never be a worthy opponent of the US in all strategic fields, nut just another version of Africa, my grandpa was a KMT solidier which fought for the Republic of China during WWII, he has almost died, if he was alive, he will be asshamed to see ROC is ruled by pro-Japan party, finally, the KMT army in the past, yeah they hated the Communists, battled with them, but still refuse to betray the national interest,

[@GrammarNaziAUS]

​​​​@@EmilechenDoesn't stop them from invading Tibet, or claiming Arunchal Pradesh, for which the previous legitimate government of China gave up all claims for. Or even attempting to claim to be an Arctic nation, or nearly the entirety South China Sea. China is actively worse than Nazi Germany was, in its' claims. At least Danzig was annexed by Poland before its' time as a free city was up, breaking its' obligations to Versailles, or the fact that the Sudetenland had a German-majority. Yes, remember that. China is *worse* than Nazi Germany, when it comes to their "neo"-colonialism and their "wolf warrior" (brinksmanship) diplomacy.

[@davidebic]

@@Emilechen The fact that such a mentality was imparted to you (of Chinese nationality I assume) is just a testament to how dangerously China is conducting itself in these last few years. The only thing I see is that desperate need for national affirmation which led to two world wars. The land should be of whoever inhabits it, not of just some power. If the Taiwanese don't want to be inside of China, then that's their choice and they are free to do so.

[@TraderJoe888]

No strategic, military or economic value, but they are of intense symbolic value and the honor of two nations is on the line. Am I the only being reminded about Bakhmut?

[@samuela-aegisdottir]

If the Ukrainians gave up Bakhmut, the Russians would have moved forward and destroyed another town or even a city. Bakhmut had no strategic value itself, but keeping the frontline steady and preventing destruction of more settlements and mining more fields has a huge value for Ukraine. Ukraine had to fight the Russians somewhere, when the Russians chosed to fight over Bakhmut, the Ukrainians fought over Bakhmut.

[@andrewklang809]

This just in: A large island of floating trash, mostly composed of fishing nets and milk cartons, has been detected 428km east-by-southeast of Okinawa. The Chinese government has stated that it has documents dating back over 4000 years, signed by the Yellow Emperor himself asserting China's "indisoluble and eternal claim" to the floating trash and has launched several armed vessels to draw dashes around it and to ram into any dolphins who try to stake their own claim.

[@cl8804]

nah, it's been part of china since ancient thai ming

[@pinxvol3898]

Interesting history fact, the argument of this island was put on hold by Deng when he tries to normalize China-Japan relationship at 1972. Both sides agrees to make the island "non-existent" on a political level in order to maintain relationship. The next time the island create large dispute is at 2012 when Japan tries to buy the island (mentioned in the video). Coincidentally, this event happened right at the moment where China, Korea, and Japan is about to sign probably the biggest free trade zone agreement ever. But this event caused tension to escalate between the two countries and the free trade zone had been put on hold till this day.

[@abcdedfg8340]

Ccp can pound sand and cry all it wants over made up land claims it seems to use as distractions for its subjects and for resources. I do not care. If they want to act like a big crybaby, they will be treated as such. Just my opinion.

[@H1kari_1]

Please ask your audio engineer to fix your volume levels. It's pretty quiet.

[@hopseshopsidis]

i wish we could have more of these virtual museum, like for the Louvre or British Museum...

[@Nn-3]

The islands have a huge strategic value. Do you think China's tiny artificial islands in the South China Sea were made for fun?

[@almighty3946]

You can see Jack struggle to contain his laughter

[@weshuggie]

The Senkaku Islands belong to Japan, this is irrefutable. The Japanese have in their possession, an authentic Chinese document housed in the Yaeyama Museum which refers to an important event. It is a Chinese consul's 1920 letter of appreciation for the rescue of 31 fishermen washed ashore on Japan's Senkaku Islands, Yaeyama District, Okinawa Prefecture, Empire of Japan. In other words,……in 1920, pre communist China agreed that the Senkaku Islands belonged to Japan…..keeping in mind that there were 200 Japanese fishermen and their families already living on the island processing bonito flakes. Archaeological evidence shows that no Chinese have ever inhabited the islands. The Chinese communists arrived at a later date, they lied, twisted and tortured the truth, faked their history in order to cheat and steal the islands from Japan, this is China's criminal modus operandi.

[@stunstar4553]

After the China-Japan War, China lost Taiwan and its affiliated islands (including Senkaku Islands), but after the World War II, Japan signed an agreement to return the Chinese land invaded in the war, including Taiwan and its affiliated islands

[@stunstar4553]

The problem was that Chiang Kai shek, who was in power in China at that time, was busy with civil war and did not send troops to take over these islands

[@SomeoneFromBeijing]

This is unsurprising coming from someone who uses the Imperial Japanese war flag as their profile pic. The sun is skewed to the left, and the colour red is not as bright as the modern-day Maritime SDF flag, so it is clear that this flag is the WWII-era naval flag. In East Asia, this is equivalent to the Nazi flag. The profile pic alone should discredit whatever you just said. But I have some patience for you. After WWII, Japan was forced to cede all its conquered territories. And it is my belief Japan should follow Germany's lead and shut up about territorial problems.

[@Emilechen]

Japan is a fascist loser of WWII, when China is one of the five major winners of WWII, such is the radical difference, giving back Manchuria and Taiwan to China is a decision made by the allied nations, recognized by the UN, Japan is already luck that China didn't occupy Japan homeland, like what France hs done to Germany after WWII, and divide Japan into 2 parts,

[@kasugaryuichi9767]

@@SomeoneFromBeijing OK wumao

[@Lords1997]

They’re rightfully Japans!!!

[@PopulismIsForBottomFeeders]

"The Chinese also claims that the islands--" I'ma stop you right there. China claims pretty much everything in the region belongs to it's 'ancestral history'. China will Tasmania is part of their 'ancestral fishing grounds' soon enough.

[@xenofonkarykis8417]

I'd be inclined to say that if it's being defacto administered by Japan for a century and China hasn't said a word until recently, then it's probably a maximalist claim even though at some point in history before China may have considered it part of its own domain. Any way my opinion doesn't matter but it's probably best they agree to some arbitration according to international law especially if it is something of small significance in economic or military terms

[@OurLordandSaviorSigmar]

Remember when the Philippines brought China to arbitration in the Hague (Philippines v. China, PCA Case No. 2023-19)? Even other States that have overlapping claims in the South China Sea supported the ruling of the arbitral body (Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia). Until now, China doesn't want to bring the case to a third-party tribunal; instead it insists on staking its claim to islands that are more than 400 nautical miles (double that of an Exclusive Economic Zone under UNCLOS) away from its shores, and preferring "bilateral talks". It knows it cannot win if the issues are brought before a neutral party, because historical claim is not a valid mode of acquiring ownership over territory under international law (China is a State Party of UNCLOS). I don't see it changing its mind over this similar issue, for the reason stated above.

[@xenofonkarykis8417]

@@OurLordandSaviorSigmar Generally speaking, uninhabited islands have no economic activity and as such do not produce EZ, this is in accordance with UNCLOS provisions. Also, even if they did there doesnt seem to be any oil or anything there to take advantage of and make a big fuss about anyway. At least that's what the video suggested. Anyway one thing I ll agree on, one party at least probably doesn't want to see the dispute resolved, sometimes these disputes exist for their own sake, for other reasons.

[@OurLordandSaviorSigmar]

@@xenofonkarykis8417 oh I just showed you how China positions itself with its absurd claims based on "historic title", but refuses to resolve these issues before neutral parties. I'm fully aware of the details and intricacies on EEZs under UNCLOS. I do not wish to discuss the actual details on the issue in the South China Sea, because it's not my field of expertise, but just to give it as a way of example to surmise how the PRC is behaving in its maritime neighborhood.

[@xenofonkarykis8417]

@@OurLordandSaviorSigmar Yes I agree

[@Pang-nn4eq]

@@OurLordandSaviorSigmar, The Hague tribunal is not recognized to have jurisdiction by China. U.S. also has not ratified UNCLOS treaty. It was a sham tribunal. China's claims are all valid. Including the 9 dash line.

[@MrMaeson]

As far as I heared, it is more important to the US to be able to block Chinas export driven economy by closing together with their allies the maritime access to the pacific. From the north it starts in South Korea, Japan (especially incl. Senkaku), Taiwan, Philipines, Indonesia and Singapour. As soon as one of chinese military navy vassels crosses without permission one of these martime zones, it could be interpreted as an act of aggression by the Chinese government.

[@Emilechen]

the biggest free trade zone in the world: RCEP, mainland China, Japan, SK, Asean, Australia are members, but US, India, Mongolia, Taiwan and North Korea are not members, South Korea uses to earn many money from trade with China, but from this year, SK has commercial deficit with China, they will lose many incomes, the problem is, the US want its Asian allies sacrifice their economical interest to achieve American geopolitical strategy, but who pays the bill?

[@GrammarNaziAUS]

​@@EmilechenYou forget that a Chinese dominated Asia leaves very little room for South Korea (for whom the North is supported by North Korea) and Japan (for whom the Chinese have a very distinct hatred for) to maintain political independence. Don't forget, the Chinese aren't democratic and have no reason to ensure their regional rivals are capable of competing with them, especially when their ideology is diametrically opposed to their own. Aligning with the US isn't just aligning with the US' interests, but their own. Otherwise, they would not do it. They aren't American puppets, after all.

[@Emilechen]

@@GrammarNaziAUS if China can survive for so long time when other great empire fall definitely, this is because China knows how to make concession and never go too far, Chinese politicians don't like extremity, but prefer balance, China did expand, but with limit, so China only claim Taiwan and South China Sea islands, but nether Outer Mongolia nor Outer Manchuria, except India, all land neighbors of China have settled land border problem with China, even Vietnam, as long as the Korean war is ended, all Chinese soldiers retreat from North Korea, China supports NK because China can't tolerate an adversary powerhouse dominate Korean peninsula, but if US military bases don't exist in SK, China doesn't really have interest to support a nuclear dictatorship, to be honest, China is pragmatic enough, China doesn't pretend and can't dominate the World or Asia along, such is not the goal of China, China doesn't waste time for impossible goal, China can still welcome the global leadership of US, noy interested to replace US military bases worldwide, China can accept the fact that US have the most powerful navy in the World, dominate Pacific Ocean, if some Turkishes claim to rebuild Ottoman Empire or Pan-Turkist Union, some Russian have idea to rebuild Tsar or Soviet Empires, what China claims is not to rebuild Han or Tang Empire, but to restore the Silk Road, a trade road, China don't really dreams to dominate Asia alone, but most Chinese don't have idea to alienate US civilization, or even invade North America, China is not ephemeral Mongol or Japanese Empire with non realist geopolitical ambition, many American mistake China with them, China wants to be the equal and worthy opponent of US, we can compete, but not war, if the US respect the basic national interest of China, such as the one China policy, the alies decision to give back Manchuria and Taiwan to China, it is ok, the question is US don't tolerate the existence of any great continental powerhouses in Eurasia, US always try to encircle them with their alies, finally, of course, the existence of a reunited make all its Asian neighbors impossible to become superpower anymore, but what can Japan expect else? in long-term neither Japan nor SK can really compete with Chinese high-tech industrial dominance, if they have a normal and good relationship with China, they can still remain rich by being integrated in regional trade system led by China, of course, they can have another choice: join the US anti-China alliance, and it is much more risky, because even if China loses, both Japan and SK need to make great sacrifices and suffer damages, to be honest, when Asia was dominated by China, Korea had a higher place than Japan, China doesn't have important historical grudge with Korea, Korea knows it is impossible to surpass China, but surpass Japan is more realist, so if Korea can do it by alling with China, why refusing? so SK doesn't have great interest to get involved in Taiwan war, China is surrounded by too many countries in Eurasia, so hegemony is not a good opinion, if we compare China with US or USSR, we can see China is relatively much more softer and flexible,

[@GrammarNaziAUS]

@@Emilechen Except, you make the mistake of thinking these empires are contiguous, when they are not. It'd be like claiming Germany has the territorial claims over all of the Mediterranean, along with England, simply because they had a Frankish king in Charlemagne who was made Roman Emperor. That's not how countries work, the Germany of today has very little to do with the Franks, and the China of today has very little to do with any Chinese empire prior to the Qing. Any arguments to the contrary is pure nationalist garbage, and has as little political relevancy to any discussion as a Greek trying to reclaim the glory of the Byzantines. And to imply that China of today would function like a government of 1000 years ago, let alone more, is the height of radical nationalist nonsense and stupidity. If China cared so much about balance, they wouldn't be expanding their nuclear arsenal, nor would they be pushing away their neighbours and potential regional allies over claims for the SCS. Do remember that Vietnam is the only other country in the world with a "Communist" government, outside North Korea, and yet, does not have very friendly relations with the Chinese. That is a monumental failure on the part of China, and nothing your nationalist ass says can change that.

[@Erdwick]

@@Emilechen India is not pro US but not pro China due to China supporting Pakistan and trying to invade southern Tibet. North Korea is a 3rd world state with little ability

[@seoul_louis9584]

The island is belongs to Ryukyu. Not Japan or China, or Taiwan.

[@OurLordandSaviorSigmar]

Please correct your video. Under international law, what you said as "unoccupied land" (but more like unowned land) is known as "terra nullius" not "terra nullis". 1:59

[@samyueldanyo8679]

The islands have a huge streategic value, do not parrot mis-direction narratives. China is obsessed (and for good reason) with having acccess to the oceans and hence those islands will provide a corridor out of the Taiwan straits. Not to mention they would be very valuable in any conflict with Taiwan, Japan or Korea.

[@user-ig5wx6mz5r]

As for the Senkaku Islands, China has no decent legal basis. In addition, China did not show any interest until it was announced that there were resources around the Senkaku Islands in the 1970s.

[@chillmaino828]

Everyone knows the islands belong to Sudan

[@peterfireflylund]

It's funny that the Chinese virtual museum has a Playmobil ship in it :)

[@christineannclerino4008]

The recorded of the documents during that time are written in Chinese and the Japanese are copy and adapted the writings when the expedition in that islands.

[@hershchat]

“Partikili” means particularly.

[@Flipflopflopper]

India was apart of the uk, so? Just because one country used to control some part of a land, it doesn’t mean you forever have a claim to it.

[@bentencho]

China is already angling to dispute Japanese's sovereignty of Okinawa.

[@mini_bunney]

I don't know about that "no strategic value" part... I mean, just slap some anti-ship missile batteries and anti-air launchers on them, dig some storage caves and build a small concrete pier and wow, you now have an unsinkable missile boat and resupply base

[@miguelmiramon1505]

Dude, they would sink. It's to much money, it would just be better to have ships and the islands not existing

[@westrim]

I guess I'm late to the "no military value!?" scolding, so I'll just wait for the talk on Nebula in a week or two. That was a pretty strong misfire though, guys.

[@samuela-aegisdottir]

If I can claim anything which is on a map I made, I could claim the entire world. I painted a huge map of the entire world when I was homeschooled, that gives me the right to claim all the teritiry now, you know?

[@CARL_093]

well senkaku / diaoyu islands its been too long and into this deputed

[@h0len]

Historically Greenland used to be part of Norway, and like china likely will, Norway lost Greenland to Denmark because Denmark had permanent settlements and therefore control of the island. If Japan has had people staying on the islands, then they are likely going to easily win if they go through international court, then again China may not want to go through international courts as Japan has been in control of the island since 1895...

[@writz2]

All territory claimed by the CCP is also claimed by Taiwan. This includes all mainland territory(including Tibet and disputed territory with India), the semi-autonomous Hong Kong and Macau, the 9-dash line, and the Senkaku islands. As for why they both claim the same stuff, it's the one China Policy.

[@TheECSH]

Very few people in Taiwan take this seriously. It is but a vestige in our outdated constitution that we aren't able to amend (because China threatens war if we were to amend our constitution. Weird huh? I know)

[@ScottyShaw]

Exactly. Under the One China Policy (which remains the legal and official positions of both governments), both Beijing and Taipei agree that all that land belongs to China. They simply disagree which government represents the real China. As for popular sentiment and what the average person feels about the One China Policy, that's a separate matter for a separate discussion.

[@calvinhue]

Taiwanese constitution claims more stuffs but it’s not like they can change their constitution. China’s anti-secession law would grant PLA right to conduct an outright invasion when Taiwan changes their territorial claim.

[@daryoushhaj-najafi9865]

"main beef" lol

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

It does have military value now because of the PRC's island-building works seen in the SCS/WPS.

[@unconventionalideas5683]

7:08 Y'all used a building belonging to the State of Utah to represent the US national government. That's like using a picture of Scotland's Devolved Parliament in Holyrood to represent the UK.

[@promcgamer3505]

Interesting

[@myleskgallagher]

MAKE A NEBULA APP!!!!! if theres an app, I'll get it. I'm sure I'm not alone.

[@tauceti8060]

Do the Guyana Venezuala dispute

[@christineannclerino4008]

Very interesting why they claimed who first and renamed the uninhabited islands. So as a western yourself no bias which is most closer in the territory during the dynasty of China. I study this asia history because it is runned by aggressive group of pirates in Asia. They always said that the tributary system are these countries in the past in my opinion.

[@ferullamobile4825]

No strategic value? Those island basically gives japan and its allies reign over the waters around those island.

[@nelyrions1838]

Is there anything remotely close to China that is not claimed by China?

[@Elongated_Muskrat]

China has very good maps back when China was thought to be the whole world, therefore China owns Earth. China is love, China is life. Long live Winnie.

[@Emilechen]

the claim of China is not based on old map, but based on Cairo and Postdam declaration published by the allied nations, since China is one of the 5 major winners of WWII,

[@spacemanx9595]

​@@Emilechenyeah... No

[@OurLordandSaviorSigmar]

​​@@Emilechendid you study international law? Because Declarations merely express intentions of parties, but do not create any obligations unlike treaties. Moreover, China wasn't even invited to the Peace Treaty of San Francisco. So let's see, historical basis is not recognized under IL for ownership, nor Declarations. What's left in the claim of China then?

[@marym7104]

Within 3 hours!

[@bikkiikun]

Their "stategic value" lies in the Economic Exclusion Zone.

[@miguelmiramon1505]

If they are uninhabitable they can't be considered to expand EEZ, and this islands certainly can't be habitable

[@TH-lu9du]

I'm surprised there is no oil in rhe vicinity

[@Hexaroot785]

Politicians fighting over rocks be like:

[@leojones22]

Of course, you're going to say Japan

[@user-vp5iy8ec9q]

But China could fill in & build air sea bases, similar to inside nine dotted lines illegal reef islands expansions, plus China claim key trade route eastern south sea + Taiwan as well, & claim territorially

[@rkramer5629]

Part of the so called “First Island Chain” isn’t strategic?

[@GameplayTubeYT]

5:40 China will build man made island to those "Junk Rock" to extend China territory 😂😂

[@thecaribbean8615]

Fishing rights or shipping around the islands?

[@loot6]

They're officially called the Senkaku islands in the world, not just in Japan. Only China gives them a different name.

[@CedarHunt]

I always love how stupid that "It's on an old map therefore we own it" claim is.

[@Hollywood2021]

Right? China wouldn’t like it if Mongolia made similar nonsensical claims

[@guest-gsP2H5jkv4fsG]

For Taiwan or Okinawa fisherman is quite important, not as you said "no economic factor.".

[@fireironthesecond2909]

China: “We used to own these islands so we should own them now!” Mongolia:

[@airtale8725]

But they don't even claim to have owned it, they just claim that because it was supposedly on a Chinese map it should be theirs. Therefore I think the world should be controlled by the Dutch. Or the Polynesians.

[@thomask5038]

No STRATEGIC VALUE??? Ooph...

[@Muhammad_Hamza_Salman]

China is trying to become a naval power like US because navy is key to superpower.

[@theburden9920]

mostly economic security

[@J_X999]

Regional naval power. They are no where near the power projection of the US.

[@BWhit-cx9ie]

​@@J_X999haha bra deluded. You're a dying horse getting chased out everywhere.

[@Joker-yw9hl]

China is extremely vulnerable to naval blockade

[@Muhammad_Hamza_Salman]

@@J_X999 Agree but China's Navy is growing rapidly, and US is concerned about it. On other hand China have bonus point that US navy has to look over all over the world but china is focus in his region only (This make US navy global power and chinise navy a regional power).

[@TheCentristChad]

"They may be junk rocks but they are our junk rocks" 😂

[@SebastianLundh1988]

You don't think islands *north of Taiwan* might have strategic value?

[@SuperJibulus]

The rocks belong to Great Britain

[@colonel1003]

why does Tokyo’s governor political affiliation have to be mentioned, it adds nothing

[@christineannclerino4008]

Maybe due to the colonization and the treaties between the two countries. Actually make the three east asia countries getting closer to the island of (Formosa) Taiwan.

[@social3ngin33rin]

You didn't mention how the CCP militarizes their fishing fleet around the world. These islands in the chain are important to the CCP, they have a lot of value, especially in the short-term with Taiwan. This video is bad and sponsored by the CCP lol

[@KinLee919]

Around the world is a strong word, Chinese fishing boat typically don't go out east Asia. Unlike Japanese whale hunter boat, stealing all over the world.

[@Sohanjs]

Please cover news on Manipur

[@BenSalernoMedia]

-PRC on all territorial disputes: "Some dead government with entirely different borders on roughly the same landmass as the current PRC once claimed this area, so it is obviously ours." -PRC on anyone using that same logic against them: "This is an unacceptable and dangerous breach of our national sovereignty. Everyone should respect sovereignty as much as we do. Sortie the jets."

[@brunoheggli2888]

I do!

[@jonathanwei2477]

You didn’t mention china’s claim classifies the diaoyu islands through Yilan county, province of Taiwan (as for whether that’s under the republic of China or the people’s republic of China, you decide). This also implies the PRC’s claim on Taiwan.

[@karahafu]

yet former president of taiwan, lee teng-hui stated that the senkaku islands belonged to japan

[@rikulappi9664]

No strategic value? Really? Why not?

[@sypherthe297th2]

The simplest reason is they're really just small mountainous outcroppings. They aren't big enough to really do much with and mountains are kind of famous for not being flat. Seeing as how the only country in the world that seeks to expand their territorial waters with fake islands and terraforming they are really just trying to save the expense of doing so by claiming these islands. The fact of the matter is China views themselves as the most culturally and technologically advanced society on Earth. Which could be true at various times throughout history but is laughably false today. China is a cultural and technological backwater. There is a lot of nonsense in the rights and privileges (far too many to go into in a YT comment) China claims for itself as this is what expansionist authoritarian states have done historically. Winnie the Pooh knows he is up against a demographic and economic wall that require making good on China's various threats before they hit it.

[@Failedartstudent]

People like to use their likes and dislikes to judge right from wrong, not justice. So when you are so strong that no one dares to call you evil, you are righteous. In fact, international disputes still follow the most primitive law of the jungle.

[@miguelmiramon1505]

China won't go to the ICJ to hold their claim because they would loose under current international law. The problem with international law is that there's not an international "police", there's no international executive power that can coerce and force countries to follow international law or to go to international courts like there is in national governments

[@only_fair23]

Because that's the only way to divide it. If China were strong enough, they could just take these regardless of international law but they aren't so they can't.

[@harishthotakura857]

There is no right or wrong .Only strength

[@stratocastit]

Falklands islands dispute explained please. Would be a nice compare and contrast.

[@miguelmiramon1505]

The main difference is that there's people actually living in the Malvinas/Falklands Islands. Secondly, both the UK and Argentina have claimed sovereignty over the Malvinas/Falkland islands at the same time, and China didn't claim sovereignty over Senkaku for centuries. This means there's not a real argument for China to claim sovereignty under international law, unlike Argentina and the UK

[@wearebecomedeathstar2658]

Japan does. Japan owns those islands. People live there, and they are japanese. Let the ryukyu island natives decide. It's their ancestral fishing grounds after all.

[@wallabeearby3373]

The island is situated on Japan's sea lane upon which their energy imports come in. Furthermore, they link up the EEZs of Taiwan and Japan, not only conjoining Japan's domestic sea lane to their adjacent "rule abiding neighbour's sealane", but also blocking "free access" to the Pacific from China - which is a major part of the US's strategic presense in the west pacific - PAX Americana. Playing a positive role in the US's global strategic presense is a plus for any country security wise. wtf is TLDR talking about?

[@miguelmiramon1505]

They aren't habitable. Uninhabitable islands can't extend EEZ

[@spacemanx9595]

Yeah they have come off a bit pro china lately. It's weird.

[@_lumbel_9094]

we all know how accurately those maps are that china drags out...I mean they claim Taiwan as a part of their teritory but we all know that it is not.

[@WanderTheNomad]

In practical terms, they should belong to Taiwan, no? They're much closer to perform management if needed, and would be a good symbolic compromise.

[@LeeSkJohn-sv8wi]

Japan anexed Ryukyu republic and chinas diao yu which was not in the Shimonoseki treaty. Both these territory does not belong to japan.

[@John.349]

Japan just has to have military presence 24/7

[@TexRex6352]

I don't buy the idea that the islands have nothing of significant value underneath or around them. That sounds like some garbage the writers just decided to run with. It's been said in the past countries first need to actually do exploration before they can say there's nothing of value and they protest each other doing any. Then there's the fact that there's more than oil to look for. Japan has the potential to be a major hydrogen power user and certain chemicals it would use to do that are found abundantly underwater around the country. There's also the issue of fishing rights and expanding territorial waters. People can say the islands aren't large enough to count towards expanding territorial waters/borders according to this or that treaty but that doesn't mean Japan and China won't argue otherwise if it's to their benefit.

[@krissb.2553]

If I'm not mistaking, 200km around a land mass is considered part of the nation. If China claim those island, it permit them to go to the pacific ocean "as part of there own waters". Having Japan taking claim on those island, it blocks China to do so and contain China to the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, South China Sea. (they can only claim up to 200km off shore of the land.) So, the statement of no strategic value is false or misinformed claim from the channel part. There is a big strategic value, more than you think/share. So, I have to downgrade the value of this channel respectfully ;)

[@schwenke069]

A bully only understands a punch in the face. Sad ... but true.

[@comicalmushroom4790]

It's actually San Marino

[@airtale8725]

It's actually Marino-san.