1. WHOSE LAND IS THIS?WHOSE LAND IS THIS?
An Alternative Approach toAn Alternative Approach to
the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands Disputethe Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands Dispute
Seminaire ASIES/INALCO, Paris, INALCO
Marco Zappa
PhD Student
Department of Asian and North African Studies
Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
28 Novembre 2014
2. The China-Japan territorial dispute over Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands:The China-Japan territorial dispute over Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands:
Why are they offcially disputed?Why are they offcially disputed?
Source:Source: japanfocus.orgjapanfocus.org
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3. Raw Materials - International LawRaw Materials - International Law
inadequacy - Historical Claimsinadequacy - Historical Claims
• Fishing areaFishing area for Japan, PRC and Taiwan ;for Japan, PRC and Taiwan ;
• Natural gas reserveNatural gas reserve – "A second Persian Gulf" (UN, 1968 – cit. In Lee e Kim, 2001) ;– "A second Persian Gulf" (UN, 1968 – cit. In Lee e Kim, 2001) ;
• UNCLOS rules on EEZUNCLOS rules on EEZ cannot be appliedcannot be applied (200 nautical miles from the national coast):(200 nautical miles from the national coast):
East China SeaEast China Sea only 360 nautical milesonly 360 nautical miles wide ;wide ;
• Solution:Solution: median linemedian line – not always respected ;– not always respected ;
• ConciliationConciliation between Chinese and Japanese positionsbetween Chinese and Japanese positions impossibleimpossible so far (Cfr Lee e Kim,so far (Cfr Lee e Kim,
2001).2001).
Diaoyu are part of “China’s sacred territory from ancient times”Diaoyu are part of “China’s sacred territory from ancient times” (MFA of PRC, 2012);(MFA of PRC, 2012);
Senkaku Islands are clearly an inherent part of the territory of Japan, in light of historical facts andSenkaku Islands are clearly an inherent part of the territory of Japan, in light of historical facts and
based upon international lawbased upon international law (MOFA of Japan, 2014)(MOFA of Japan, 2014)
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5. A Realist ApproachA Realist Approach
International Politics:International Politics:
• StateState
• AnarchyAnarchy
• Self-helpSelf-help
• Balance of powerBalance of power
The aim for each great state is “toThe aim for each great state is “to
maximize its share of world power”maximize its share of world power”
(Mearsheimer,(Mearsheimer, The Tragedy ofThe Tragedy of
Great Power PoliticsGreat Power Politics, 2001), 2001)
5 Source:Source: wikimedia.orgwikimedia.org
6. The China-Japan territorial dispute overThe China-Japan territorial dispute over
Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands (2)Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands (2)
Not just power politicsNot just power politics
• GeopoliticsGeopolitics – China/Japan and China/USA– China/Japan and China/USA
(via Japan)(via Japan)
• Domestic issuesDomestic issues – regime change,– regime change, socialsocial
issuesissues and rise of nationalist movementsand rise of nationalist movements
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7. Identity, Perception andIdentity, Perception and
HistoryHistory
• David Kang (2007)David Kang (2007) confutes the realistconfutes the realist
approachapproach to international relations in East Asia.to international relations in East Asia.
• HistoricallyHistorically few confictsfew conficts. China's. China's centrality (centrality ( 中中
国国 )) in the system.in the system.
• Stable relations with China asStable relations with China as «opportunity»«opportunity» forfor
countries in the area (Kang,countries in the area (Kang, China RisingChina Rising, 2007), 2007)
• China-Japan relations:China-Japan relations: competitioncompetition andand
complementaritycomplementarity (Katzenstein, 2008)(Katzenstein, 2008)
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Source:Source: wikimedia.orgwikimedia.org
““Actors may be strategic, but defne their goals in a historicallyActors may be strategic, but defne their goals in a historically
situated fashion based on prevailing and contingent interpretation ofsituated fashion based on prevailing and contingent interpretation of
social situations, including institutionalized values, norms, andsocial situations, including institutionalized values, norms, and
power confgurations”power confgurations” (Jackson 2009: 68)(Jackson 2009: 68)
9. GeopoliticsGeopolitics
US-Japan AllianceUS-Japan Alliance, Treaty of Mutual Defence and Cooperation (Anpō) 1960, Treaty of Mutual Defence and Cooperation (Anpō) 1960
(Art. V); Japanese Constitution art. 9 (Japanese « pacifsm »); integration of(Art. V); Japanese Constitution art. 9 (Japanese « pacifsm »); integration of
Japan in US “Imperium” i.e. US-led international system (Katzenstein, 2008);Japan in US “Imperium” i.e. US-led international system (Katzenstein, 2008);
Obama administration:Obama administration: “Pivot to Asia”.“Pivot to Asia”.
September 11, 2012: Senkaku/DiaoyuSeptember 11, 2012: Senkaku/Diaoyu nationalisednationalised by Tokyo (Noda cabinet - DPJ)by Tokyo (Noda cabinet - DPJ)
November 23, 2013: Beijing declares anNovember 23, 2013: Beijing declares an Aerial Defense and Identifcation ZoneAerial Defense and Identifcation Zone
((ADIZADIZ), comprising Senkaku/Diaoyu islands.), comprising Senkaku/Diaoyu islands.
July 1, 2014: aJuly 1, 2014: a new interpretation of art. 9new interpretation of art. 9 is approved (Abe II cabinet - LDP) -is approved (Abe II cabinet - LDP) -
collective self-defense (collective self-defense (shūdan teki jieishūdan teki jiei))
November 2014, Asia-Pacifc Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Beijing: ChinaNovember 2014, Asia-Pacifc Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Beijing: China
and Japan recognizeand Japan recognize “different views”“different views” over the islandsover the islands
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11. Domestic IssuesDomestic Issues
JapanJapan
• Great Tohoku EarthquakeGreat Tohoku Earthquake (March 11, 2011)(March 11, 2011)
• Lost decades: since late 1990s, economic stagnation; need for economic recovery:Lost decades: since late 1990s, economic stagnation; need for economic recovery:
LDP’s return to power, Dec 2012LDP’s return to power, Dec 2012 (Abe II)(Abe II)
• Growing social discontentGrowing social discontent: rise of nationalist and racist movements (: rise of nationalist and racist movements (uyokuuyoku
dantai)dantai) activism (Shibuichi 2007 and 2013, Morris-Suzuki 2013)activism (Shibuichi 2007 and 2013, Morris-Suzuki 2013)
China (hypotheses)China (hypotheses)
• Leadership transition:Leadership transition: from Hu era to Xi erafrom Hu era to Xi era
• Growing inequalityGrowing inequality between regions and social strata (Xie & Zhou 2014,between regions and social strata (Xie & Zhou 2014,
(Wani 2012, He 2012)(Wani 2012, He 2012)
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12. In conclusionIn conclusion
• Constructivist approachConstructivist approach more fttingmore ftting than realism tothan realism to
explaining such disputes;explaining such disputes; not just international powernot just international power
but alsobut also domestic legitimacydomestic legitimacy
• ““History matters”History matters”
• New Sino-Japanese warNew Sino-Japanese war unthinkable unthinkable : the « opportunity »: the « opportunity »
side may prevail (Kang, 2007).side may prevail (Kang, 2007).
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