英语双语时事：东亚岛屿争端的来龙去脉

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　　1)SENKAKU ISLANDS
        　　Controlled by Japan. Called Senkaku by Japan, Diaoyu inChinese.
        　　The History: China's claim to the Senkakus is based in part onrecords dating to the early 15th century. Beijing claims the areawas for centuries used by Chinese fishermen and for otherpurposes before it was taken by the Japanese during the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95. Japan dismisses China's position, saying it had never claimed itssovereignty before the 1970s. The U.S. took over administration of the islands after World War II, but returned them to Japan along with Okinawa in 1972, a decision China has since contested. Taiwan also claims the islands. The dispute has grown with China's rapid naval expansion in theSouth and East China Seas, culminating in a standoff in 2010 that chilled bilateral ties for months. The latest flare-up was started by combative Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara's move to purchase theislands from a private Japanese owner., which pushed the central government into making its ownoffer to buy them.
        　　The Stakes: China's push for the Senkakus in the East China Sea contrasts with other territorialdisputes it faces with Vietnam, the Philippines and others in the South China Sea. Oil-and-gasdeposits in the East China Sea are believed to be much smaller than the potentially massivedeepwater reserves in the disputed South China Sea.
        　　The Senkakus do hold an important strategic position as a unique area where U.S. securityobligations to Japan and Taiwan potentially overlap. The East China Sea and Yellow Sea have longserved as an important buffer between China's advancing military capabilities and U.S. allies likeJapan and South Korea.
        　　Control over the Senkakus would be important as the military looks to expand China's securitysphere. The East China Sea and the disputed areas near the Senkakus provide important shippingaccess to some of China's key ports, and Chinese leaders have long worried about direct U.S. influence there as well as proxy U.S. influence through the Japanese.
        　　Chinese military strategy in part focuses on denying access to potential naval adversaries. GreaterChinese military control over the East China Sea, for example, would complicate U.S. efforts tointervene in the event of conflict with Taiwan.
        　　2)LIANCOURT ROCKS
        　　Controlled by South Korea. Called Dokdo by South Korea, Takeshima by Japan.
        　　The History: The dispute with South Korea over the Liancourt Rocks, a set of islets halfwaybetween the two countries, can be traced back several centuries.
        　　The islets have appeared on maps in both countries back to the 1600s. Korea says that textsdated as far back as the 6th century mention them. Japan questions the accuracy of Korea'sassertions.
        　　Japan assumed control of them in 1905, shortly before its 1910 colonization of the Koreanpeninsula. Japan's assertion today rests in part on the fact that the U.S. did not include the islets ina list of territory Japan was forced to give up after World War II. South Korea has disputed thatsince early 1950s and controlled the islet with a small detachment of police since 1954. The latestspat came after South Korean president Lee Myung-bak visited the islets in early August. Japan hassince started a process to request conciliation at the International Court of Justice.
        　　The Stakes: The islets are surrounded by fertile fishing waters. In recent years, speculation arose ofenergy resources under nearby waters, but that hasn't been proven.
        　　South Korea's state-run natural gas company says a 2007 survey found natural gas hydrate inwaters near Ulleung Island, about 75 kilometers (40 miles) from the islets. Natural gas hydrate is acrystal compound that, when depressurized, converts to natural gas and water. Energycompanies are still working on efficient ways to recover it.
        　　In 2008, the South Korean national oil company, working with Woodside Energy Ltd. of Australia, identified geologic structures in the Ulleung area with significant volumes of gas or oil. But their firstexploratory well came up dry and was closed earlier this year.
        　　Japanese experts question the existence of significant natural resources reserves in the area.
            
            

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        　　3)KURIL ISLANDS
        　　Controlled by Russia. Called the Kuril Islands by Russia, the Northern Territories by Japan.
        　　The History: Japan claims the four islands based on the 1855 Treaty of Shimoda, the first Russo-Japanese agreement addressing the status of Sakhalin Island and the Kurils. The return of theislands is one of Tokyo's conditions for finally signing a peace treaty with Russia to end World WarII.
        　　Moscow argues that the islands became part of the Soviet Union following the war and there canbe no question about Russian sovereignty over them. A 1956 Joint Declaration signed by theSoviet Union and Japan that ended the state of war between the two countries raised thepossibility of the Soviet Union returning the two southernmost Kurils, Shikotan and Habomai, toJapan once a peace treaty was concluded. But 56 years later, no peace treaty has been signed.
        　　The Stakes: The islands would appear to be a minor economic prize. They form an 800-milearchipelago north of Japan that is said to contain considerable mineral wealth that has nonethelessgone undeveloped. Fishing rights in the waters around the islands appear to be their greatestasset. The population, which hovers below 20,000, lives mostly in poverty. Winters are long andsevere, and summers short and foggy. Some in Japan say the islands could be turned into scenicresort destinations just a short flight away from big Japanese cities.
       

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        　　1)钓鱼岛
        　　由日本控制，日本称之为尖阁列岛(Senkaku)，中文称为钓鱼岛。
        　　历史：中国宣称拥有钓鱼岛主权的部分依据是上溯至15世纪初期的文献。北京称，在日本于1894年至1895年中日战争期间夺走钓鱼岛之前，中国将该地区用于捕鱼和其他目的已有数百年的历史。日本反驳中国的这一立场说，中国在20世纪70年代以前从未声称拥有钓鱼岛主权。美国在第二次世界大战之后托管钓鱼岛，但在1972年将其连同冲绳交还给日本。后来中国一直反对这一决定。台湾也声称拥有钓鱼岛主权。随着中国海军在南中国海和东中国海迅速扩张，中日围绕钓鱼岛主权的争端不断加剧，2010年达到最高潮时中日关系陷入僵局，双方联系经历了长达几个月的寒冬。中日钓鱼岛争端近日之所以再度升温，是因为生性好斗的东京都知事石原慎太郎(ShintaroIshihara)要从一名日籍私人岛主手中购买钓鱼岛，此举促使日本中央政府提出了自己的购岛计划。
        　　8月19日，日本活动人士登上尖阁列岛（中国称钓鱼岛）。
        　　涉及利益：中国对东中国海钓鱼岛的争取与它同越南、菲律宾等国在南中国海的其他领土争端有着很大不同。据信东中国海的油气储量远远少于南中国海，后者的深海区域有可能蕴藏着丰富的油气资源。
        　　钓鱼岛作为一个独特的区域，确实具有重要的战略地位。美国对日本的安保义务和对台湾的安保义务在这一区域可能存在重叠。长期以来，东中国海和黄海一直是中国不断提升的军事能力与日本、韩国等美国盟友之间的一个缓冲。
        　　在中国军方谋求扩大中国的安全范围之际，钓鱼岛控制权就显得非常重要了。东中国海和钓鱼岛附近的争议区域为中国的一些关键港口提供了重要的航道，中国领导人一直担心美国在那里直接发挥影响或通过日本间接发挥影响。
        　　中国军事战略的重点之一，是让潜在的海上敌人无法靠近中国沿海。比如，如果中国对东中国海取得更大范围的军事控制，那么在发生台海冲突的情况下，美国就无法轻而易举地进行干预。
            
            

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        　　2)独岛
        　　由韩国控制，韩国称之为独岛(Dokdo)，日本称之为竹岛(Takeshima)。
        　　历史：独岛与韩日两国的距离都差不多。韩日独岛之争可以追溯到几个世纪以前。
        　　8月10日，韩国总统李明博造访独岛（日本称竹岛）。
        　　两国早至17世纪的地图上都曾出现独岛。韩国称，早在6世纪韩国就有文字材料提到独岛。日本质疑韩国说法的准确性。
        　　日本在1905年取得对独岛的控制，没过多久又在1910年对朝鲜半岛实施了殖民统治。日本目前宣称对这一岛屿拥有主权的部分依据是，美国没有将独岛列入二战后要求日本交出的领土名单。韩国从20世纪50年代初以来就反对这一说法，从1954年以来一直用一支小规模的警察部队控制着独岛。韩日围绕该岛主权的最新一次争吵发生在8月上旬韩国总统李明博(Lee Myung-bak)访问独岛之后。日本此后启动了要求海牙国际法庭(International Court of Justice)仲裁这一领土争端的程序。
        　　涉及利益：岛屿周围有着丰富的水产资源。最近几年有传言说独岛附近水域的海底蕴藏有能源资源，但这一说法没有得到地质勘探的证实。
        　　韩国国有天然气公司说，2007年的一次勘探在距离独岛约75公里的郁陵岛(Ulleung Island)附近水域发现了天然气水合物。天然气水合物是一种结晶化合物，减压后就会还原成天然气和水。能源企业还在研究有效的还原办法。
        　　2008年，上述韩国国有石油公司和澳大利亚能源企业Woodside Energy Ltd.发现，郁陵岛地区的地质结构内拥有大量的天然气或石油。但它们的第一口勘探井一无所获，今年早些时候关闭。
        　　日本专家对该地区存在大量自然资源的说法表示怀疑。
        　　3)南千岛群岛
        　　由俄罗斯控制。俄罗斯称之为“Kuril Islands”（千岛群岛），日本称之为“北方领土”(NorthernTerritories)。
        　　历史：日本根据1855年签署的《日俄和亲通好条约》(Treaty of Shimoda)声称拥有这四座岛屿的主权。这份条约是日俄之间第一份有关萨哈林岛(Sakhalin Island)和千岛群岛地位的协议。日本将俄罗斯向日本归还南千岛群岛作为两国最终签署和平条约、结束二战的条件之一。
        　　莫斯科方面声称，这些岛屿在战后成为苏联的一部分，俄罗斯对它们的主权不容质疑。1956年苏日签署联合声明，结束了两国间的战争状态。从声明的内容看，两国一旦达成和平条约，苏联方面有可能将南千岛群岛最南边的两座岛屿归还给日本。这两座岛屿分别是色丹岛(Shikotan)和齿舞群岛(Habomai)。但56年过去了，日俄还没有签署和平条约。
        　　涉及利益：从经济角度看，这些岛屿似乎意义不大。南千岛群岛在日本北方绵延达800英里（1,287公里），岛上据说蕴藏有相当数量的矿产资源，但一直没有开发。岛屿附近水域的捕鱼权似乎是它们的最大资产。岛上人口不到2万，多数处于贫困状态。这里冬天漫长而严酷，夏天短暂而多雾。日本国内一些人说，可以把这些岛屿打造成风景优美的度假胜地，从日本大城市坐飞机一会儿就到了。