5 Islands with Hotly Disputed Histories (Slideshow)

Recently, a dispute between China and Japan sparked fierce protests from both sides that ended with arrests, tear gas and torched cars—all because of an uninhabited island chain. In fact, the islands are little more than large rocks, home to nothing of note save for a single lighthouse.

Whether you call them the Diaoyu or Senkaku islands, both countries’ claims to the island aren’t simply a matter of national pride, although public opinion on both sides has shown an unwillingness to concede the issue, according to the New York Times. The territory provides access to fishing and shipping, and may hold oil reserves.

Looking at a map, geography can seem static and borders well-defined. In reality, the Diaoyu/Senkaku dispute reflects that borders are still flexible and there isn’t a complete consensus on all of the lines drawn between nations.

The temperature on the Diaoyu/Senkaku dispute is rising, but conflict over these other island chains has been boiling over for some time:

BIG PICS: Man-Made, Floating Island Goes on Sale

1. Kuril Islands — above

Japan is not only embroiled in a dispute with China over the Senkaku Islands. It’s also part of an ongoing clash with Russia over the Kuril Islands.

The Kuril Islands, a chain of four land masses in the northern Pacific between Russia and Japan, were last in the news in 2010, when then-Russian president Dmitry Medvedev visited them to reinforce his country’s claim.

Russia took control of the islands in the aftermath of World War II. In 1951, Japan signed a treaty renouncing “all right, title and claim to the Kuril Islands,” as explained by BBC News. But since Japan never recognized the four disputed islands as part of the Kuril chain and Russia was not a signatory on the treaty, the issue remained unresolved.

Like the Senkaku Islands, the Kuril chain has natural wealth, including oil and gas resources as well as abundant fishing grounds. The islands are also something of a tourist draw.

Photo Credit: Dr. Igor Smolyar, NOAA/NODC (http://www.photolib.noaa.gov) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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By Talal Al-Khatib, Discovery Channel

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

James H.

11:00AM PDT on Oct 8, 2012

just makes ya love greed(not)....thanks!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/927/641/970/help-replant-our-forests-part-7/
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/632/816/831/help-offset-our-carbon-footprint-part-5/

October 8
send a green star

Kynthia R.

12:21PM PDT on Oct 5, 2012

Wow, no surprise, 4 out of the 5 islands have oil or natural gas reserves. Oh yeah (Sarcasm) who would ever go to war over something like that ?

October 5
send a green star

Elena T.

2:21AM PDT on Sep 29, 2012

Beautiful...

September 29
send a green star

Janet G.

11:10AM PDT on Sep 26, 2012

I agree JohnD it's more about perceived mineral riches than anything to do with the land itself.

September 26
send a green star

Mary L.

10:46AM PDT on Sep 26, 2012

Ain't greed grand?

Lindsay K.

8:48AM PDT on Sep 26, 2012

Interesting - thanks

John D.

5:57AM PDT on Sep 26, 2012

Rising sea levels will not render these disputes moot. The conflict is not over living space, but oil, natural gas, and fishing. Look for more, and more heated, such conflicts in the future as oil and sea food run out.

Beverly M.

2:20AM PDT on Sep 26, 2012

Lovely places!

Victoria P.

12:05AM PDT on Sep 26, 2012

I like the look and name of the Spratlys. Where can I file my claim?

Marie W.

9:58PM PDT on Sep 25, 2012

Poor islands.