This can't be too unexpected:
Japan may nationalize any unclaimed islands in its waters in a bid to bolster its territorial claims, a government source said Monday.
The government plans to establish a new council aimed at strengthening the administration of Japan’s 400 or so remote islands to ensure it has control over natural resources in the surrounding waters, the source said.
The step might include islands that have no legal owners.
So when do the Japanese start putting robot garrisons on and around the islands?
Honestly, I'd expect everyone with claims in the South China Sea to put troops on their claims to prevent China from quietly disrupting the status quo by picking off islands one at a time at their leisure.
Remember, we have no interest in who owns those islands. We have an interest in making sure the islands are allocated through diplomacy rather than force or bullying by China against our allies.
And we have an interest in making sure that the Law of the Sea isn't twisted by China to deny our Navy access to the exclusive economic zone by saying they are territorial waters contrary to customary law, tradition, and general views of what an EEZ means.
So if China is going to use their new military muscle to bully other nations, China has to expect others to try to preempt Chinese actions, no?
