The uninhabited archipelago (the Japanese call it Senkaku, and the Chinese call it Diaoyu) came under Japanese control in 1895, along with Taiwan, which was captured by Japanese forces after winning the war with Imperial China. After World War II, the archipelago was under American occupation, then the United States transferred these territories to Japan. After the war, Tokyo gave up its rights to Taiwan, in connection with which Beijing believes that Japan should return the islands as well.
Earlier this year, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, in a conversation with Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, announced the US intention to defend the Senkaku Islands. “Defense Secretary Austin confirmed that Article 5 of the US-Japan Security Treaty covers the Senkaku Islands and that the US is opposed to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
Read on RBC Pro
Later, US President Joe Biden also confirmed his readiness to defend the territory of Japan using all available means, including nuclear weapons.
.