Academic Paper from the year 2021 in the subject Orientalism / Sinology - Japanology, grade: 1,0; A, Free University of Berlin, language: English, abstract: This study is going to try to find out if Chinese activities are provoking Japanese response. Therefore I formulate the following research question: Why did Japan change its military policy since 2013 and was it caused by increased Chinese activities in the East-China Sea? To answer my research question, I will first discuss the roots of the Senkaku dispute. Next, I will discuss China's strategy to assert its interests around the Senkaku's. Then I will examine Japan's actions to protect the islands. In a final step, I will analyze whether Japan's actions are just responses to China.