Your view on the dispute between China and Japan

**animefan** · 10-07-2010, 10:51 AM

Basically I had an argument with my parent in regards to the incident between China and Japan. Both countries claim to the ownership of the island. For the Chinese, they claimed that the island has long been a part of China, way before the Japanese lay claim to the island. However, the Japanese claimed that the Island was unoccupied and has been claimed and offically recognized in most countries as a part of Japan.

If there are any mistake in my information or any additional info that I missed out, please correct me.

Anyway, although I am Chinese, I think that the island should belong to Japan because it was previously unoccupied so it was up for grabs and all the while the Japanese had used it and treated it as a part of their nation. Only till recently when China found out that the island has oil that they started to dispute in regards to the ownership. In my book, if they neglect the island all these times and it was unocuppied, then they should not have any claim to it. However my parent claimed that my opinion was influenced by the American article writer's opinion and that the American obviously favors Japan over China. So I would like to know about your opinions in regards the matter. Who should the island belong to? Was I bias because of what I read from the American news?

**98abaile** · 10-07-2010, 11:01 AM

I agree with you, if China leaves it to Japan all this time (and as far as I know it is inhabited by the Japanese) and then suddenly starts making claims the moment it stands to gain something from them, then tough shit. Sovereignty lies with those that occupy it. China has more than enough land and resources. Also, if the international community recognizes it as Japan's, then as far as the world is concerned it IS Japan's, otherwise my claims to ownership of the world would have to be recognized.