The Conflict Over the Sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands -- between Taiwan (ROC), China (PRC), & Japan from 123 to 124.34 degrees. For the relative location of the Diaoyu Islands, they are approximately 170 kilometers northwest from Ishigakijima Island, 170 kilometers northeast of the island of Taiwan, 330 kilometers southeast of continental China, and 410 kilometers west of the island of Okinawa. Thus, they are situated more or less in the center of the sea separating Japan, China, and Taiwan. These islands were also located on the Kuroshio (black current)'s northern flow, which causes the same seasonal monsoon with Taiwan. Since the Kuroshio and Oyashio interchange around these islands, it creates a gratitude scale of whirlpool (the
Politics of the Republic of China law, a distinct Taiwanese identity (as opposed to Taiwanese identity as a subset of a Chinese identity) is often at the heart of political debates. Its acceptance makes the island distinct from mainland China, and therefore may be seen as a step towards forming a consensus for "de jure" Taiwan independence. The pan-green camp supports a distinct Taiwanese identity, while the pan-blue camp supports a Chinese identity only. The KMT has downplayed this stance in the recent years and now supports a Taiwanese identity as part of a Chinese identity. According to a survey conducted in March 2009, 49% of