China reasserts Diaoyus claim with island survey as tensions rise with Japan

Chinese ministry releases high-definition maps of the disputed chain, which is administered by Tokyo

Report comes just two months after Beijing expanded the authority of its coastguard to use force

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The Chinese survey covers the main island and two nearby islets. Photo: Ministry of Natural Resources

Published: 10:30pm, 26 Apr 2021Updated: 2:56pm, 27 Apr 2021

China has sought to reinforce its territorial claims to a group of East China Sea islands by releasing a landscape survey of the Japanese-administered features as tensions build with Tokyo.

The survey of the Diaoyu Islands – known as the Senkakus in Japan – was released on Monday by China’s Ministry of Natural Resources and covers the main island and two smaller nearby islets.

“The report … supplements and improves the basic geographic data of the Diaoyu Islands and its affiliated islands, and provides important support for the management of the Diaoyu Islands’ resources and environmental protection,” the ministry said.

The report includes high-definition topographic maps of the land features as well as their surrounding seabed up to 30m (98 feet) below the surface.

The ministry said the maps were based on historical survey data, as well as high-resolution satellite remote sensing surveys.

The report also included some photos of the island and islets taken from survey vessels sailing close to the site.