1403
The Diaoyutai Islands are recorded in the Ming dynasty manual of compass directions entitled Seeing off with a Favorable Tailwind (順風相送).
1722
Official Qing documents entitled Record of Missions to Taiwan and Adjacent Waters (臺海使槎錄) list the Diaoyutai Islands as a maritime defense base and a transportation hub.
1879
Japan occupies the Ryukyu Islands.
1885
Japan plans to occupy the Diaoyutai Islands but decides to postpone the move.
January 14, 1895
The Japanese cabinet passes a resolution to permit Okinawa Prefecture to erect a national marker on the Diaoyutai Islands. The resolution is kept secret from the outside world and is not officially made public through the normal procedure of an imperial decree.
April 17, 1895
Japan takes advantage of the Qing dynasty’s defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War to seize the Diaoyutai Islands.
1900
Japan renames the Diaoyutai Islands as the Senkaku Islands.
1945
Japan surrenders in the Second World War. In accordance with the terms of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, its territory is mainly limited to four major islands. That same year, the Ryukyus, including the Diaoyutai Islands, are placed under the administration of the US armed forces. However, the people of Taiwan are not denied use of the islands.
1968
The United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East conducts a six-week geological survey of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea region. It is joined by scientists sent by Asian countries, including the Republic of China (Taiwan), Japan, and Korea. The survey finds that the continental shelf near the Diaoyutai Islands in the East China Sea may be rich in petroleum resources.
July 1969
The R.O.C. (Taiwan) government declares sovereignty over the continental shelf in the East China Sea and starts planning to undertake petroleum exploration in the waters.
July 1970
Japan sends a diplomatic note refuting the rights of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to petroleum resources in the waters. The R.O.C. (Taiwan) government makes a rebuttal, leading to a dispute. The foreign ministries of both countries issue several position statements, escalating tension. The governments of the United States, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and the Ryukyu Islands become involved in the dispute.
August 1970
R.O.C. (Taiwan) President Chiang Kai-shek ratifies the UN Convention on the Continental Shelf, which the Republic of China (Taiwan) had signed in 1958. The R.O.C. (Taiwan) government promulgates the Statute for Exploration and Exploitation of Petroleum in Offshore Areas in September 1970. A maritime zone for petroleum resources in the Taiwan Strait and East China Sea is demarcated and the process of signing oil exploration contracts with seven foreign companies begins.
June 1971
The United States signs the Okinawa Reversion Treaty with Japan on the grounds that Japan enjoys residual sovereignty over the Ryukyu Islands. The United States returns the Ryukyu Islands and transfers administrative rights over the Diaoyutai Islands to Japan in May 1972, provoking strong protests from people of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and ethnic Chinese communities abroad.
1972
The United States mistakenly reverts administrative rights over the Diaoyutai Islands to Japan.
May 9, 1972
In anticipation of the United States’ scheduled transfer of administrative rights over the Diaoyutai and Ryukyu Islands to Japan on May 15, the R.O.C. (Taiwan) Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues a statement firmly opposing the move. To ensure territorial integrity, the R.O.C. (Taiwan) government resolutely refuses to renounce its sovereignty over the Diaoyutai Islands.
1978
The right-wing Japanese organization Nihonseinensya builds a navigation lighthouse on the Diaoyutai Islands.
May 1979
Japan builds a temporary heliport on the Diaoyutai Islands.
September 29, 1990
The Japan Coast Guard recognizes the lighthouse on the Diaoyutai Islands as an official navigation aid.
October 1990
Lin Join-sane, Secretary General of the Kaohsiung City Government, sails into the waters around the Diaoyutai Islands as part of a torch relay for the R.O.C. (Taiwan) National Games.
July 20, 1996
Japan declares a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, incorporating the Diaoyutai Islands into its territory. This leads to widespread protests.
August 1996
The Republic of China (Taiwan) and Japan hold their first round of fishery talks, focusing on fishery disputes in the overlapping exclusive economic zones. The R.O.C. (Taiwan) government proclaims its sovereignty over the Diaoyutai Islands and expresses its staunch stance on the issue.
September 1996
To safeguard its sovereignty over the Diaoyutai Islands, the R.O.C. (Taiwan) government forms an interministerial task force, which lays down four principles for handling related sovereignty issues: the Republic of China (Taiwan) will (1) staunchly uphold its sovereignty over the Diaoyutai Islands, (2) resolve disputes in a peaceful and rational manner, (3) not collaborate with the PRC to resolve the issues, and (4) give priority consideration to fishermen’s rights and interests.
February 10, 1999
The Executive Yuan announces the territorial sea baseline of the Diaoyutai Islands.
June 2005
R.O.C. (Taiwan) fishermen operating near the Diaoyutai Islands are unhappy over frequent attempts by Japanese government vessels to drive away or seize their fishing vessels, disrupting their operations and affecting their livelihoods. Serious conflicts erupt between the parties. The President of the Legislative Yuan, the Minister of National Defense, and a group of legislators join a naval patrol in the waters around the islands to proclaim R.O.C. (Taiwan) sovereignty over the area.
August 17, 2005
With neighboring countries applying to the United Nations for an extension of the outer limits of their respective continental shelves, the R.O.C. (Taiwan) Ministry of the Interior receives approval from the Executive Yuan to conduct a five-year continental shelf survey, which it launches in July 2006.
June 10, 2008
The R.O.C. (Taiwan) recreational fishing boat Lien Ho is hit and sunk by a Japanese coast guard vessel in the waters surrounding the Diaoyutai Islands, and its captain is detained. The R.O.C. (Taiwan) Office of the President promptly issues a statement reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding R.O.C. (Taiwan) sovereignty over the Diaoyutai Islands. Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Ou summons Japan’s Representative to the Republic of China (Taiwan) to deliver a strong protest and demand that Japan release the captain, issue an apology, and provide compensation.
August 2010
With Japan and the United States preparing to hold joint military exercises in the waters near the Diaoyutai Islands to the southwest of Japan, and members of the Japanese House of Representatives’ Committee on Security flying over the islands for an inspection tour, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirms the consistent stance that the Republic of China (Taiwan) enjoys sovereignty over the Diaoyutai Islands, and instructs the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan to express concern and lodge a protest with Japan.
April 18, 2012
Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara proposes that the government of Tokyo purchase the Diaoyutai Islands.
August 5, 2012
R.O.C. (Taiwan) President Ma Ying-jeou proposes the East China Sea Peace Initiative, urging all parties concerned to refrain from taking any antagonistic actions; shelve controversies and not abandon dialogue; respect international law and resolve disputes through peaceful means; seek consensus on a code of conduct in the East China Sea; and establish a mechanism for cooperation on exploring and developing resources in the East China Sea.
September 7, 2012
R.O.C. (Taiwan) President Ma Ying-jeou visits the Pengjia Islet, which lies about 140 kilometers from the Diaoyutai Islands, for the first time as president. He suggests that the Republic of China (Taiwan), Japan, and the PRC find a solution to the Diaoyutai dispute through negotiations.
September 10, 2012
The Japanese government signs a contract to purchase three of the Diaoyutai Islands from their landowner after its cabinet officially decides to nationalize them.
September 11, 2012
R.O.C. (Taiwan) Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy C. T. Yang condemns and protests Japan’s nationalization of the Diaoyutai Islands. He recalls R.O.C. (Taiwan) Representative to Japan Shen Ssu-tsun and summons the Japanese Representative to the Republic of China (Taiwan) to demand that Japan revoke its decision.
September 24, 2012
Fishermen, mainly from Yilan, take part in a privately organized activity to ensure their survival and protect their fishing rights, setting sail in dozens of fishing vessels from Nanfang’ao Fishing Port to the waters surrounding the Diaoyutai Islands, under the escort of over 10 patrol vessels from the Coast Guard Administration.
October 5, 2012
In a message for the Republic of China (Taiwan), Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba describes the Diaoyutai Islands dispute as unresolved, calls for efforts to avoid increasing tensions, expresses his understanding of the basic concept and spirit of the East China Sea Peace Initiative and its Implementation Guidelines, and calls for the early resumption of bilateral fishery talks.
April 10, 2013
The Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Agreement is signed after the 17th round of bilateral talks in Taipei. The agreement designates a maritime area—south of latitude 27° north, and north of Japan’s Yaeyama Islands and Miyako Islands—in which the fishing rights of R.O.C. (Taiwan) fishermen are protected, adding approximately 4,530 square kilometers to their operating area.
May 7, 2013
The Taiwan-Japan Fishery Committee holds its first meeting in Taipei to establish an institutionalized mechanism for negotiations over issues of common concern.
December 26, 2013
The Taiwan-Japan Fishery Committee holds its second meeting in Tokyo to discuss technical issues related to the regulation of fishing operations by both sides in the designated areas of the East China Sea. An agreement is reached to convene a third meeting as soon as possible.
January 23, 2014
During its third meeting in Taipei, the Taiwan-Japan Fishery Committee approves regulations for longline fishing vessels operating in the maritime areas subject to the fisheries agreement, which cover tuna longline fishing and include previously agreed rules. The regulations are aimed at preventing disputes over different operational techniques employed by R.O.C. (Taiwan) and Japanese vessels in the designated areas.
March 4, 2015
During the fourth meeting of the Taiwan-Japan Fishery Committee in Tokyo, the two sides agree to amend the Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Agreement regarding operational regulations in the inverted triangle-shaped maritime area north of the Yaeyama Islands and the special cooperation zone designated by the agreement in order to address the concerns of R.O.C. (Taiwan) and Japanese fishermen.
March 2-4, 2016
During the fifth meeting of the Taiwan-Japan Fishery Committee in Taipei, the two sides decide to maintain the form of operations agreed upon in 2015 and to hold separate negotiations on other issues of common concern.
May 20, 2016
R.O.C. (Taiwan) President Tsai Ing-wen states in her inaugural address that the Republic of China (Taiwan) proposes setting aside disputes in the East China Sea and South China Sea so as to enable joint development.
March 1-3, 2017
During the sixth meeting of the Taiwan-Japan Fishery Committee in Tokyo, the two sides continue to discuss measures to ensure that fishing vessels can safely operate in the maritime areas subject to the fisheries agreement. Both sides agree to advise their respective fishing vessels to install automatic identification system (AIS) devices and purchase protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance.
March 15-16, 2018
During the seventh meeting of the Taiwan-Japan Fishery Committee in Taipei, the two sides reach a consensus on maintaining the current form of operations in the special cooperation zone. They also agree to amend the operational regulations in the inverted triangle-shaped area north of the Yaeyama Islands in accordance with the principle of reciprocal cooperation and the spirit of preserving fishery resources as stipulated in the Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Agreement.
March 5-7, 2019
The eighth meeting of the Taiwan-Japan Fishery Committee is held in Tokyo to discuss issues regarding application of the Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Agreement, including operational regulations for fishing vessels in the maritime areas, the AIS, and P&I insurance. The Republic of China (Taiwan) reaffirms its position on fishing operations in the overlapping exclusive economic zones outside the aforementioned areas. After a candid exchange of opinions, the two sides agree to meet again before the fishing season to continue negotiations in accordance with the principle of reciprocal cooperation and the spirit of preserving fishery resources as embodied in the Taiwan-Japan Fisheries Agreement.