A U.S. report warns that China may already consider Japan’s administrative control over the Senkaku Islands null and could be planning military occupation. Such a claim could undermine the basis for U.S.-Japan joint defense commitments, posing a serious strategic risk for Japan’s security.

It also pointed out that China is specifically planning even the military occupation of the Senkaku Islands.
2018-01-17
The following continues from the previous chapter.
China’s plan.
The above outlines the overall U.S. recognition and concerns regarding the Senkaku crisis.
Among these points, the indication that China believes it has already taken administrative control of the Senkaku Islands from Japan carries significant weight for Japan.
Administrative control, simply put, means governing authority.
It can also be described as a state in which the laws that support national sovereignty are fully enforced.
In other words, the fact that Japan’s executive, legislative, and judicial powers extend to the Senkaku Islands constitutes the condition that Japan holds administrative control over them.
However, Chinese vessels now freely enter Japan’s territorial waters around the Senkakus.
There are no Japanese public facilities or personnel on the islands.
Under such circumstances, a declaration from China that “Japan no longer holds administrative control over the Senkaku Islands” could carry a certain degree of persuasive force.
If such a declaration spreads internationally, it would have serious implications for Japan’s defense.
An interpretation could even emerge that the U.S. commitment to joint defense under the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty does not apply to the Senkakus.
China would naturally promote such an “interpretation.”
As is well known, the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty clearly states that in the event of an armed attack against territories “under the administration of Japan,” both Japan and the United States will act to meet the common danger.
This means that the United States has the obligation to exercise collective self-defense and defend Japan.
In other words, if China launches an armed attack on the Senkakus, the United States is pledged to support Japan and fight Chinese forces.
Successive U.S. administrations, including the current Trump administration, have declared that the Senkaku Islands fall within the scope of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.
The premise for this has been the judgment that the Senkaku Islands are under Japan’s administrative control.
China’s denial of Japan’s administrative authority carries at least a theoretical potential to undermine that premise.
The commission’s annual report further revealed developments that constitute a grave warning to Japan.
It pointed out that China is specifically planning even the military occupation of the Senkaku Islands.
This point is precisely the aspect of the Senkaku crisis to which Japan must pay the greatest attention.
To be continued.