Beijing(Online): Beijing has reminded the US that it has “inherent” sovereignty over a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea after the new US defense secretary vowed to continue to protect the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands on behalf of Japan.
The islands, known as Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese, were transferred by US under Japan’s administrative control in 1971, sparking a territorial dispute with China. Tokyo argues it had ownership of the islands from 1895 until its surrender at the end of World War II.
Speaking in Tokyo, at the end of a visit to East Asia, new US Defense Secretary James Mattis reaffirmed American commitment to Japan’s security. Mattis made clear that the United States opposes any “unilateral action” to “overthrow” Japan’s administration of the Senkaku Islands.
