Image credit: CNN
Why in the news?
The local assembly of Ishigaki city in southern Japan voted on June 22, 2020 to rename an area, including islands disputed with China and Taiwan.
What is the change?
The local council approved a plan to change the name of the area covering the Tokyo-controlled Senkaku Islands — known by Taiwan and China as the Diaoyus — from “Tonoshiro” to “Tonoshiro Senkaku”.
Another part of Ishigaki is also known as Tonoshiro, and the name change was cast as a bid to avoid confusion.
China and Taiwan objection
China has opposed the move. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that the passing of the so-called administration designation bill by Japan is a serious provocation to China’s territorial sovereignty .
Taiwan says the islands are part of its territory, and also protested the move.
About Senkaku
The islands, 1,200 miles (1,931 kilometers) southwest of Tokyo, have been administered by Japan since 1972, but Japan, China and Taiwan say their claims to the group date back hundreds of years.
