China is going to map disputed archipelago

China plans to put on their maps Diaoyu Islands (the Japanese name - Senkaku).

China began to map islands back in 2009 as part of the program aimed at protecting the rights and interests of China in the Arctic Ocean. The scientists had to map all of the islands and reefs, located at a distance of 100 km from the Chinese coast.

In 2012 the first stage of mapping was over. 4,900 islands were mapped and described in details. Now the scientists are going to map the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea. Experts intend to map coastal reefs, which then will be plotted on maps of China, as part of the country.

Note that disputes over the Diaoyu archipelago are conducted since 70-ies of the last century. Beijing considers the land originally Chinese. However, Japan, as well as Taiwan disputes this territory. The conflict worsened after the Japanese government bought from a private owner three islands of the five. China was angered by this situation and demanded to cancel the decision.

According to some sources waters around the uninhabited islands are rich in fish, and it is supposed that the shelf has oil and gas fields.