The Role of the United States in the China-Japan Dispute over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Dao Islands
Keywords:
Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands Dispute, United States Foreign Policy, China–Japan Relations, Structural Realism, Balance of Power in East AsiaAbstract
This article examines the role of the United States in the dispute between China and Japan over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Dao Islands. The study aims to identify the factors underlying U.S. support for Japan in this territorial dispute. The analysis is based on the theory of structural realism and draws on the examination of the historical background of the dispute, the legal and political arguments advanced by the parties, as well as official U.S. documents and public statements by U.S. officials. The study demonstrates that U.S. support for Japan is primarily driven by its strategic interest in maintaining the balance of power in East Asia and strengthening its regional position. In addition, the geostrategic location of the islands and their potential natural resources constitute important factors influencing the policies of the parties and the regional security environment.References
ბოხუა, მ. (2018). დიდ სახელმწიფოთა მეტოქეობა საერთაშორისო პოლიტიკაში: აშშ-ის როლი ჩინეთ-იაპონიას შორის არსებულ დაპირისპირებაში სენკაკუს/დიაოიუ დაოს კუნძულების გარშემო (სამაგისტრო ნაშრომი). ივანე ჯავახიშვილის სახელობის თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტი.
Agreement between the United States of America and Japan. (1971). http://www.ryukyu-okinawa.net/contents/documents/archive/rev71.html
Banotes. (n.d.). Neorealism in international relations: Structural power. https://banotes.org/international-relations/neorealism-international-relations-structural-power/
Cairo Conference. (1943). U.S. Department of State Archive. https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/wwii/107184.htm
Chanlett-Avery, E., & Rinehart, I. E. (2016). The U.S.-Japan alliance (CRS Report No. RL33740). Congressional Research Service. https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/RL/PDF/RL33740/RL33740.22.pdf
Diaoyu Dao, an inherent territory of China [White paper]. (2012, September). Diaoyu Dao, an Inherent Territory of China. http://www.diaoyudao.org.cn/en/2015-01/25/content_34649357.htm
Dolven, B., Manyin, M. E., & Kan, S. A. (2014). Maritime territorial disputes in East Asia: Issues for Congress (CRS Report No. R42930). Congressional Research Service. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R42930
Drifte, R. (2014). The Japan-China confrontation over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands-Between “shelving” and “dispute escalation.” The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus, 12(30), Article 4154.
Goldman, C. (2015, August 5). Stanford scholar illuminates history of disputed China Sea islands. Stanford Report. https://news.stanford.edu/2015/08/05/islands-chiang-diaries-080515/
How uninhabited islands soured China-Japan ties. (2014, November 10). BBC News. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-11341139
Instrument of surrender. (1945). National Archives Foundation. https://www.archivesfoundation.org/documents/japanese-instrument-surrender-1945/
Ishii, L. J. (2013). The U.S. imperative on the Senkaku/Diaoyu territorial dispute (Master’s thesis). U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA
Kosta, A. (2018). The China-Japan conflict over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands. Routledge.
Li, M. (2009). China's participation in Asian multilateralism: Pragmatism prevails. In R. Huisken (Ed.), Rising China: Power and Reassurance (pp. 147-164). ANU Press. https://doi.org/10.22459/RC.03.2009.11
Manyin, M. E. (2017). The Senkakus (Diaoyu/Diaoyutai) dispute: U.S. treaty obligations (CRS Report No. R42761). Congressional Research Service. https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/R/PDF/R42761/R42761.18.pdf
Manyin, M. E. (2021, March 1). The Senkakus (Diaoyu/Diaoyutai) dispute: U.S. treaty obligations (CRS Report No. R42761). Congressional Research Service. https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/R/PDF/R42761/R42761.23.pdf
Mearsheimer, J. J. (2001). The tragedy of great power politics. W. W. Norton & Company.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. (2013). The Senkaku Islands (Ministry of Foreign Affairs report)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. (2014, April 4). Situation of the Senkaku Islands. https://www.mofa.go.jp/a_o/c_m1/senkaku/page1we_000010.html
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. (2012, October 26). Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun gave briefing to Chinese and foreign journalists on the Diaoyu Dao issue (Transcript). https://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/zy/jj/diaodao_665718/mn/202406/t20240606_11378082.html
Nikolopoulou, K. (2023, June 22). What is purposive sampling? Definition & examples. Scribbr. https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/purposive-sampling/
O’Rourke, R. (2018). Maritime territorial and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) disputes involving China: Issues for Congress (CRS Report No. R42784). Congressional Research Service. https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/R/PDF/R42784/R42784.86.pdf
Panda, A. (2014). Obama: Senkakus covered under U.S.-Japan security treaty. The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2014/04/obama-senkakus-covered-under-us-japan-security-treaty/
Panda, A. (2017). Mattis: Senkakus covered under U.S.-Japan security treaty. The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/2017/02/mattis-senkakus-covered-under-us-japan-security-treaty/
Potsdam Declaration. (1945). National Diet Library. https://www.ndl.go.jp/constitution/e/etc/c06.html
Potsdam Declaration is still valid today. (2015, July 27). China Daily. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2015-07/27/content_21416358.htm
Przystup, J. J. (2009, April). The United States and the Asia-Pacific region: National interests and strategic imperatives (Strategic Forum No. 246). Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University.
Roller, M. R. (2023). Qualitative content analysis: 6 articles on the definition & quality design considerations. Research Design Review
Roy-Chaudhury, S. (2016, August 1). The Senkaku Islands dispute. International Policy Digest. https://intpolicydigest.org/2016/08/01/senkaku-islands-dispute/
Sana, A. (2012). United States interests in Asia-Pacific: Implications for Pakistan. Institute of Strategic Studies, Research and Analysis (ISSRA).
Security treaty between the United States and Japan. (1951). The Avalon Project. https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/japan001.asp
Senkaku Islands: Location, area, and other geographical data. (2015, February 17). The Sasakawa Peace Foundation. https://www.spf.org/islandstudies/info_library/senkaku-islands/02-geography/02_geo001.html
Senkel, C. (2022). China and Japan: Partners, rivals, and their clash over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands (Master’s thesis). Erasmus University Rotterdam. https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/65240/Senkel-Christian.pdf
Shaw, H. (1999). The Diaoyutai/Senkaku dispute: Its history and an analysis of the ownership claims of the P.R.C., R.O.C., and Japan. Institute of Asian Research, University of Maryland.
Shulong, C. (2008). A mechanism to stabilize U.S.-China-Japan trilateral relations in Asia. Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies, Brookings Institution.
Smith, S. A. (2012). Japan and the East China Sea dispute. Orbis, 56(3), 370-390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orbis.2012.05.006
The White House. (2017). Joint statement from President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/joint-statement-president-donald-j-trump-prime-minister-shinzo-abe/
The White House. (2025, February 7). United States–Japan joint leaders’ statement. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/02/united-states-japan-joint-leaders-statement/
Togo, K. (2014). Japan-China-US relations and the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands dispute: Perspectives from international relations theory. Asian Perspective, 38(2), 241–261.
Treaty of Shimonoseki. (1895). USC U.S.-China Institute. https://reparations.qub.ac.uk/assets/uploads/Treaty-of-Shimonoseki.pdf
Treaty of Shimonoseki. (n.d.). Diaoyu Dao: The Inherent Territory of China. http://www.diaoyudao.org.cn/en/2015-01/25/content_34649429.htm
Treaty of peace with Japan. (1951). https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/1338718-san-francisco-peace-treaty-1951.html
U.S. Department of Defense. (2018). Summary of the 2018 National Defense Strategy of the United States of America. https://media.defense.gov/2020/May/18/2002302061/-1/-1/1/2018-NATIONAL-DEFENSE-STRATEGY-SUMMARY.PDF
U.S. Department of Defense. (2026). 2026 National defense strategy. https://media.defense.gov/2026/Jan/23/2003864773/-1/-1/0/2026-NATIONAL-DEFENSE-STRATEGY.PDF
U.S. Mission Japan. (2023, January 11). Joint statement of the Security Consultative Committee (2+2). https://jp.usembassy.gov/joint-statement-security-consultative-committee-2plus2/
Waltz, K. N. (1979). Theory of international politics. Addison-Wesley.
, , , ,
