I'll

copy this comment to keep.
This is a commentfrom a forum ofcnnwhich treatsislandissuebetween
China and Japan. Posted by TOYO.

--
There are some errors in this article.
I , as a Japanese, must say thehistoricalbackground of the dispute.

In 1885, Japan started a exploration of theislands.
As a result of the research, Japan confirmed that no country claimed the sovereignty
over them.
Inconsequence the Japanese governmentdecided to incorporate them to Japan in 1895.
It means that Japan's incorporation of theislands was notconcerned with the
Sino-Japanesewar.
Additionally the Chinese government atthe time did notprotestagainst Japan.

After the WWII, theislands were ruled by the USAbecause the Allies thought that
they had been apart of Okinawa.
Even then the Chinese government did notprotest.

Sincewhen did Chinabegin to claim sovereignty over them?
It was 1971, after the discovery of the oildeposits near theislands.

Theirpurpose is obviously the oildeposits.