The Japanese and Chinese both want those islands so that they can become the sole exploiters of the mineral/oil rights in the continental shelf surrounding the islands.
The ROC (Taiwan) has the best geographic claim (170km away and on the same continental shelf). Japan has a slightly worse geographic claim (same distance but separated by the Okinawa trench) but a good historic claim…the islands have been claimed by Japan since 1895 and ignored by China until the 1970s when surveys indicated possible oil reserves. BTW The PRC claim arises due to its claim that Taiwan is its 23 province.
The Japanese and Chinese both want those islands so that they can become the sole exploiters of the mineral/oil rights in the continental shelf surrounding the islands.
The ROC (Taiwan) has the best geographic claim (170km away and on the same continental shelf). Japan has a slightly worse geographic claim (same distance but separated by the Okinawa trench) but a good historic claim…the islands have been claimed by Japan since 1895 and ignored by China until the 1970s when surveys indicated possible oil reserves. BTW The PRC claim arises due to its claim that Taiwan is its 23 province.