Okinawan City Changes Area Designation Of Senkaku
The Ishigaki City assembly in Okinawa prefecture, southern Japan, has passed a bill to change the name of an administrative area covering the Senkaku Islands to include the name "Senkaku."
Japan controls the islands. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. China and Taiwan claim them.
The islands are under the jurisdiction of Ishigaki City.
The proposal was approved by majority vote on Monday. Currently, the administrative designation for the islands is "Tonoshiro."
It will be changed to "Tonoshiro Senkaku" from October 1.
The bill explains that the change was made to avoid mistakes in administrative work because another location in Ishigaki City shares the name "Tonoshiro."
The move comes at a time when Chinese coast guard vessels have been repeatedly intruding into Japan's territorial waters near the islands.
Chinese vessels have been navigating the contiguous zone just outside the territorial waters for 70 consecutive days from April 14.
Some people in Taiwan have protested the move of the Ishigaki assembly.
