Quake monitoring shows Diaoyu Islands belong to China
- By Chen Boyuan
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China.org.cn, April 9, 2014
Graphics from official U.S. and European monitoring agencies of an earthquake off the northeast coast of Taiwan in 2011 have shown the Diaoyu Islands are part of China's territory.
 |
|
An earthquake monitoring image published by the China Earthquake Administration. The two bright dots off the northeast coast of Taiwan are the Diaoyu Islands. |
On Nov. 8, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake was monitored off the northeast coast of Taiwan, the only quake on that scale in 2011 within China's territory.
The epicenter's coordinates were 27.2 degrees north, 125.9 degrees east, and the focal depth was 217 kilometers. The epicenter was just to the northeast of the Diaoyu Islands (coordinates: 25.8-26 degrees north, 123-124.5 degrees east).
Data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) showed that " 6.9-magnitude seismic activity took place off the northeast coast of Taiwan; the epicenter's coordinates were 27.28 degrees north, 125.87 degrees east, and the focal depth was 209.5 kilometers."
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) published similar information, including the geological structure of the quake-stricken seabed.
In the announcements from both embassies, the epicenter and the Diaoyu Islands indisputably sat on the continental shelf which extended from the Chinese mainland. Both agencies also labeled this area as "northeast of Taiwan," a clear message that the United States and Europe recognized the Diaoyu Islands are part of Taiwan, which in turn, is part of China.
As it is part of international convention, a country's maritime territory includes the extended part of the continental shelf the country sits. Japan, formed by multiple undersea earthquakes, is not in the same geological system that contains the Diaoyu Islands.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)