Kuba-shima, Disputed island in East China Sea, Japan China
Kuba-shima is an uninhabited rocky island in the Senkaku archipelago, rising about 117 meters above sea level with steep coastlines. Sparse vegetation covers the terrain, and the surrounding waters are shallow in some areas.
Japan incorporated the island into Okinawa Prefecture in 1895, and discovery of oil resources in the area later led to competing territorial claims from China and Taiwan. This shift transformed the archipelago's strategic importance in the region.
The island represents different territorial perspectives, with Japan naming it Kuba-shima, while China refers to it as Huangwei Yu in official documents.
The island is closed to public access due to strict control by the Japan Coast Guard. Visitors can only view the island from a distance when traveling by boat in the surrounding waters.
Substantial oil deposits were discovered in the waters near the island, significantly raising international interest in the territory. This resource discovery transformed an otherwise obscure island into a focal point of geopolitical importance.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
