Country: State of Japan

Committee: SPECPOL (Special Political and Decolonization)

Agenda: The Senkaku Island Dispute

The Senkaku Islands consist of eight major islands in the East China Sea. The islands are
located northeast of Taiwan, east of China, west of Okinawa Island, and north of the
southwestern end of the Ryukyu Islands. The ocean around the islands is well known for its
rich marine resources. At some point around 1890, Japanese fishermen and merchants from
Okinawa and Kyushu began to land on the Senkaku Islands to collect turbine shells and
albatross feathers. People’s Republic of China and Republic of China both lay claims on the
Japanese governed territory.
While the Senkaku Islands were incorporated into the Japanese territory in 1895, and the
Government of Japan and Okinawa Prefecture began to manage the land and collect taxes
there. Claims, by other countries, over the islands only appeared after the 1970s, when
significant attention was drawn to the islands due to the potential existence of the oil
reserves in the East China Sea. After World War II, the San Francisco Peace Treaty placed the
Nansei Shoto Islands, including the Senkaku Islands, under US administration, thereby
affirming the island's status as part of the territory of Japan. Even during this period, the
Japanese government conducted academic research and various other activities on the
island. In 1972, the administrative rights to Okinawa, including the Senkaku Islands, were
returned to Japan. Since then, the Japanese government has continuously administered the
Senkaku Islands through actions such as conducting security patrols and law enforcement in
the seas surrounding the islands and consistently collecting taxes for privately owned lands
on the islands.
Japan continues to strive for peace and stability in the region, which is to be established
through the observance of international law. The Senkaku Islands are indisputably an
inherent part of the territory of Japan in light of historical facts and based upon international
law. As such, any challenges to Japan’s sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands will be firmly
and calmly delt by Japan’s central and local authorities. However, Japan seeks stable
relations with China and is ready for talks, emphasizing mutual benefit while safeguarding its
territorial integrity.