U.N. to consider validity of China's claim over disputed islands

[Bosonic]

Source: Reuters

The United Nations is planning to consider later this year the scientific validity of a claim by China that a group of disputed islands in the East China Sea are part of its territory, although Japan says the world body should not be involved.

Tensions over the uninhabited islands - located near rich fishing grounds and potentially huge oil-and-gas reserves - flared after Japan's government purchased them from a private Japanese owner in September, sparking violent anti-Japanese protests across China and a military standoff.

Taiwan also claims the islands, known as the Diaoyu islands in China, the Senkaku islands in Japan and Tiaoyutai in Taiwan.

In a submission to the U.N. Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, China claims that the continental shelf in the East China Sea is a natural prolongation of China's land territory and that it includes the disputed islands.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/24/us-japan-china-islands-un-idUSBRE90N16Z20130124

[Franker65]

1. I agree with Japan

Its a bit late for the U.N. to be becoming involved now, since Japan already purchased the islands. Where were they when all the violence flared up? Japan obtained the islands fairly and despite all the sabre rattling, China won't do anything stupid. Japan and China are key trading partners, according to statistics and any stupid move by China will end up with alienation from Japan's major friends like the US, South Korea and Australia.