Christopher P. Cavas
WASHINGTON — Japan is expanding its East China Sea surveillance network around the disputed Senkaku Islands, and a new radar observation station is expected to go online on March 28.
“This is kind of a power vacuum area,” Col. Masashi Yamamoto, military attaché with the Japanese embassy here, said Thursday.
“Considering North Korean activities, and the frequent invasion of our territory by China around these islands, we think we need to beef up our intelligence capability so that Japan can react better.”
The Senkakus, called the Diaoyu Islands by the Chinese, are a group of eight uninhabited islands and barren rocks claimed by both nations. The island group, located about 300 miles west of Okinawa, has been administered by Japan since 1895. The Chinese stake their claim based on the group’s location near Taiwan, traditionally a part of China. The islands have become increasingly significant due to their location near rich fishing grounds, shipping lanes, and potential oil and gas reserves.
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