Achieving and Maintaining Peace in the East China Sea

The last two years have seen a dramatic escalation of tension in the East China Sea (ECS) over the fate of the Senkaku/Diaoyutai islands, which are simultaneously claimed by Japan, Taiwan, and the People's Republic of China.

The ECS has become more tense and combustible than at any point in decades. This began with an incident between a Chinese fishing boat and Japanese Coast Guard vessels in 2010 and has escalated to the recurring confrontations of 2012, involving various competing bands of nationalist protesters, vessels from all three jurisdictions, and anti-Japanese demonstrations in multiple Chinese cities.

Hudson Institute and the Congressional Taiwan Caucus hosted an event at which distinguished experts from Taiwan discussed this issue and assessed proposals for lessening tensions, managing the conflict, and resolving disputes.