2012-03-22 (China Military News cited from Kyodo) — China seeks to ”break” Japan’s control over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea by conducting its own patrols around the islets, a State Oceanic Administration official said in an interview published Wednesday in the People’s Daily.
China ”will break (Japan’s) intent to acquire a so-called ‘statute of limitation’ and eventually steal the Diaoyu Island,” the Communist Party daily quoted a ”responsible person” of the East Sea squadron under the State Oceanic Administration as saying, referring to the islands by their Chinese name.
Beijing is concerned the Senkaku Islands could be recognized by international law as Japanese territory if Japan’s control lasts for 50 years, according to a source familiar with Japan-China military relations.
The report came after a Chinese maritime surveillance ship on Friday briefly entered into the territorial waters off the Senkaku Islands, administered by Japan but also claimed by China and Taiwan. China said Monday it will intensify patrols near the islets.
”Chinese patrols in this area would help weaken Japan’s effective control over the Diaoyu Island, neighboring islands and surrounding waters for more than 40 years,” the official was quoted as saying.
By May 2022, Japan will have administered the uninhabited islands for 50 years since the United States handed over to Japan control of the islands along with Okinawa.
Beijing claims the islets have been part of Chinese territory since ancient times.
At present, China Marine Surveillance, a unit under the State Oceanic Administration, possesses nine civilian planes, 380 ships and more than 500 vehicles, according to the official.
I support the independence of the Ryukyu people. They have been an independent nation, with their own language and culture for over 2 thousand years. Japan conquered the Ryukyu Island through an invation in violation of all international laws, if any of those existed then.