Countries involved in the dispute over the islands and rich mineral resources in the South and East China Seas have chosen their own names for the land masses - to underscore their property rights

In March 2012, the Japanese parliament named the previously nameless chain of 39 islands Senkaku. The People's Republic of China responded promptly with its own name, Diaoyo, for a total 70 islands in the region. Republic of China (Taiwan) rejected Japan's names.

The case shows how the naming of islands can be used as a political tool. The naming - as well as older documents and maps - aims to prove that the opposing parties have never cared about the region and that there has always been a legitimate claim to the disputed islands.

The result is a plethora of names and terms that can cause confusion. DW provides insight into the conflicts, the names and the players.

East China Sea

The East China Sea, called Dong Hi () in Chinese and Higashi Shina Kai () in Japanese, is located west of the Chinese mainland, north of South Korea, east of the southwestern part of Japan and south of Taiwan.

Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands

The East China Sea is home to the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyo Islands, which are called Diaoyu do () in Chinese, Diaoyutai liy ( ) in Taiwanese and Senkaku Shoto ( ) in Japanese. These are eight uninhabited islands and reefs. The largest island, which is 4.32 square kilometers, is about the size of the English Garden in Munich.

Liancourt Rocks/Dokdo Islands

The Liancourt Rocks, or Takeshima () in Japanese and Dokdo () in Korean, include two rocky islands and a group of smaller rocks. Both South Korea and Japan claim the islands. They were managed by Japan up to 1945 and by South Korea since 1953.

Continued here:

A guide to names of islands in the South and East China Seas