China plans to survey disputed islands

(The Philippine Star)

January 16, 2013 - 8:55am

In this Sept. 2, 2012 file photo, the survey ship Koyo Maru, left, chartered by Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials, sails around Minamikojima, foreground, Kitakojima, middle right, and Uotsuri, background, the tiny islands in the East China Sea, called Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese. Japan's Shinzo Abe has taken a tough stance toward Beijing in the election campaign amid a simmering dispute over the islands in the East China Sea that are controlled by Japan but also claimed by China and Taiwan. - AP

BEIJING (AP) â€” China says it plans to conduct a detailed survey of an island group at the heart of a simmering territorial dispute with Japan.

The upcoming study of the islands announced Tuesday is part of a comprehensive survey of China's maritime claims. The planned survey also includes islands in the South China Sea claimed by Vietnam, the Philippines and others.

No other details were given. The move reflects Beijing's increasingly assertive attitude toward its island claims that has sparked fears of a regional conflagration.

Tensions mounted in September after Beijing responded furiously to Tokyo's purchase of the islands from their private owners. The tiny, uninhabited rocks surrounded by rich fishing grounds and suspected undersea mineral resources are known as Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan.

SPONSORED ARTICLES