Senkaku Islands, Disputed archipelago in East China Sea.
The Senkaku Islands form a group of five uninhabited islands and three bare rocks in the southwestern part of the East China Sea. The entire landmass covers roughly seven square kilometers and sits in isolation between different coastlines.
Japan declared the islands its territory in 1895 during the First Sino-Japanese War. After World War Two, the United States administered them until returning control to Japan in 1972.
Multiple nations claim the territory using different names that reflect their position on ownership. Chinese fishermen traditionally refer to the waters by one designation while Japanese mariners use another term.
The Japan Coast Guard controls access to the waters around the islands and typically denies entry to private vessels. Visitors cannot land on the islands as the entire zone remains under strict access restrictions.
The waters around the islands serve as an important breeding ground for the short-tailed albatross, a rare seabird. The region also sits near major shipping lanes and was surveyed for potential oil deposits in 1968.
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