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The territorial dispute in the East China Sea reflects the entanglement of relationships between the United States, China, and Japan. The unique history of Taiwan and Okinawa adds to the complexity of these relationships. To prevent the present security crisis from degenerating into a large-scale military conflict, as systematic understanding and transformation of these interconnected relationships is essential. As an initial step toward transforming the underlying conflict, the following steps can be taken: Create a transitional framework for “freezing” the conflict, which will enable China and Japan to agree to disagree, either explicitly or tacitly, on their mutually exclusive claims over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands. Be creative in transcending the two sides’ axiomatic commitment to the mutually exclusive nature of territorial sovereignty, drawing on international precedents. Explore both unilateral and bilateral gestures of conciliation between China and Japan, including the use of a hotline, voluntary restraint on security deployment, and joint peacekeeping. Launch a U.S.-China-Japan dialogue for conflict resolution in the East China Sea, with input from Taiwan and Okinawa
As tensions between Japan and China continue to bubble over islands in the East China Sea, scholars from the two countries outline not only the origins, but also the policy options to resolve the territorial dispute. Together with George Mason University, the Wilson Center hosted a conference on how the ongoing conflict may be resolved in late January. Clash of National Identities: China, Japan, and the East China Territorial Dispute is a compliation of essays by the conference participants.