Chapter IV. Territorial Disputes In East Asia, The San Francisco Peace Treaty Of 1951, And The Legacy Of U.S. Security Interests In East Asia

This chapter argues that while the post-war period offered the opportunity for the complete and unambiguous resolution of territorial questions regarding Japan, the lack of precision in key diplomatic documents allowed certain territorial disputes to arise between Japan and its neighbors. It examines the historical background of each dispute including the bases for the claims made by the various parties. The chapter discusses the declarations of intent issued by the Allied Powers late in the war when it was apparent that Japan would be defeated, i.e, the Cairo Declaration, the Yalta Agreement, and the Potsdam Proclamation. These resolutions provided the framework for the San Francisco Peace Treaty. The evolution of the San Francisco Peace Treaty itself, as revealed in a series of interim drafts, is examined. The ongoing territorial disputes in East Asia, as this research demonstrates, involve intertwined political and legal issues. Keywords: Cairo declaration; East Asia; Japan; Potsdam proclamation; San Francisco Peace Treaty; territorial disputes; Yalta agreement