East Asia Graduate Student Forum: Territorial Disputes in East and Southeast Asia

Eric French, Doctoral Candidate in Political Science. The recent confrontation between China and Japan over the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands is just one of many territorial disputes over islands, atolls, and shoals in the Sea of Japan, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea. Erik French will lead a discussion about the underlying reasons for these disputes.  Are there common elements of history, geography, and law that explain these disputes?  What do these conflicts say about nationalism, resources, and regional cooperation?”