The Ishigaki Municipal Assembly in Okinawa Prefecture on Monday renamed the administrative area in the East China Sea encompassing the disputed Senkaku Islands "Tonoshiro Senkaku" from "Tonoshiro."
It said the renaming takes effect October 1. The renaming is aimed at resolving administrative confusion between a locale in downtown Ishigaki, which shares the name "Tonoshiro" with the isles. Tonoshiro Senkaku falls under Ishigaki's administrative authority.
Ishigaki Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama submitted the bill for the name change after Japanese fishing boats were harassed by China Coast Guard boats in Japanese territorial waters near the islands in early May. This incident led to speculation the name change is a response to that incident.
Nakayama, however, denied the change is designed to cement Japan's claim over the area. He said the change is "merely intended to streamline administrative work."
Last week, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Japan will take all measures to ensure surveillance of the areas around Tonoshiro Senkaku after the illegal incursions by Chinese coast guard boats.
China also claims sovereignty over the uninhabited Senkakus, which they call Diaoyu and immediately protested the name change. The Republic of China (Taiwan), which also claims the Senkakus, lodged a protest.
Both China and Taiwan see the name change as part of Japanese attempt to bolster its control of the islands by inserting the Japanese name "Senkaku." Japan brought the islands under its control in September 2012 triggering protests from both Taiwan and China.
Taiwan urged Japan to exercise self-constraint. It also asked Tokyo to refrain from undermining bilateral ties, as well as peace and stability in the East China Sea. Taipei vowed to continue handling the matter through peaceful and reasonable means. It said its foreign ministry had "strongly protested" to Japan about the name change.
Presidential Office spokesman Xavier Chang said any unilateral action does not change the fact the Tiaoyutai Islands (Taiwan's name for the islands) are the sovereign territory of the Republic of China.
China said the Ishigaki Municipal Assembly bill is a serious provocation to China's territorial sovereignty. It slammed the bill as illegal and invalid. The bill also can't change the fact the Diaoyu Islands belong to China, said China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. China has lodged a complaint with Japan and reserves the right to take further action.
Taiwan also said China Coast Guard boats have disrupted fishing activities in the contested waters of Senkaku for an extended period. It called on the mainland to resolve the territorial row in a peaceful manner. On Monday, four China Coast Guard boats operated in the contiguous zone near the Senkakus. Taiwan said Chinese paramilitary and civilian ships have been spotted in the area for the 70th straight day, the longest span since September 2012.
