By If you have had enough of news on North Korea and the sinking of the Cheonan, well here is an update from Dokdo front:
The Japanese government approved on Tuesday five elementary school textbooks that represent Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo as Japanese territory. Japan has expressed its willingness to develop a future-oriented Korea-Japan partnership while looking at history squarely in the face. So, the South Korean government hoped Tokyo would put such willingness into clear action. However it has dampened the relationship once again with its wrongful claim to Dokdo.
Tokyo’s approval of the five textbooks is especially worrisome as they are the only available textbooks for elementary schools in Japan. It means Japanese elementary school students will now have no option but to be taught that Dokdo islets are Japanese territory. No doubt, it is a regrettable direction for the Japanese government, one that will instill the growing generation with incorrect views of territory and history. It will surely have highly negative impacts on improving bilateral ties between the two countries.
It can be considered outright provocation against the South Korean government and its people who observe the centennial of Japanese colonialists’ forced annexation of Korea this year. The decision also comes at a sensitive time, as the nation is mourning disastrous and unverified explosion on the Yellow Sea that sank the Cheonan. It is an irresponsible act that fails to meet the expectations of sensible people in both countries.
The Dokdo Islets are Korean territory historically, geographically, and by international law, and they are effectively under Korean control. But Japan has never given up its territorial ambition. Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said he had the courage to look at the history of Korea-Japan relations squarely and resolve any problems. But his remarks don’t represent much of a break from previous Liberal Democratic Party governments. Rather, the approval is a manifestation of the Japanese government’s territorial ambition. [KBS Global]
Read the rest at the link, but what find ironic about this is that this article is accusing Japan of having territorial ambitions while the country with real territorial ambitions over the South, the North Koreans are busy likely blowing up a ROK Naval vessel killing 46 people in a long line of provocative behavior with hardly the indignation that the Dokdo issue drums up.
By the way you can read what I think about the whole Dokdo issue here.
3:28 am on April 2nd, 2010 1
I hope this article was written by an intern.
4:08 am on April 2nd, 2010 2
I think Gerry Bevers should teach the history class. Seriously.
4:18 am on April 2nd, 2010 3
with hardly the indignation that the Dokdo issue drums up.
Well, to be fair, South Korea does put almost all its young men in uniform for about two years and expends a huge chunk of land, resources, and GDP for that North Korean threat, which tends to overshadow and "represent" the indignation.
Besides, North Korea is not a supposed ally laying claim to South Korean land or waters. Seoul has no choice but to respond somehow. I'm glad it's so tempered under Japan-born President Lee.
7:13 am on April 2nd, 2010 4
Maybe if we put a lot of military hardware on Dokdo, it would capsize.
8:22 am on April 2nd, 2010 5
I agree. If the Dokdo issue does not impress you, that's understandable. But it is strange to contrue this latest bout between Japan and South Korea as an example of South Korean hypocrisy of ignoring the threats by the North. The South seems to be doing the right thing by waiting for investigators to publish their findings on the Cheonan sinking. This will obviously take months to sort out. In addition, the South does in fact know that North Korea is no longer a threat to invade them and that no credible non-Korean thinks that South Korea should be annexed by the North. And finally, let's be clear, both South Korea and Japan really really really really want ownership of Dokdo.
8:26 am on April 2nd, 2010 6
"This will obviously take months to sort out." By this I mean that from what we know of the damage, it could take a long time.
I will try to edit before submitting comment.
9:40 am on April 2nd, 2010 7
It is regrettable that Japan cannot teach its people the situation of Takeshima without South Korean butting their heads in their business all the time.
South Korea may not see it as a dispute, but the Japan does and South Korea wrongly used force to take control the islets.
The Takeshima/Dokdo islets is geographically in between Japan and Korea, so historically it could be own by either nation, since historic records both claim it so. By international law, it belongs to Japan, yet Korea took it by force, which violates international law.
Due to all this, it still dispute by Japan and Korea, but Korea refused to admit it. They seem to act childishly and stubbornly every time the issue pops up.
10:01 am on April 2nd, 2010 8
Actually, no. Japan's legal claim is one of terra nullius in 1905 [see HERE], and Korea can demonstrate claim on the islands prior to that. This is a throwback to Japan's Imperial expansion era, and it needs to just drop it. Much like whaling under the guise of scientific research, it's something that engenders far more bad will than it's worth.
Tokyo should give up the claim in exchange for Seoul's silent acquiescence on Tokyo's claim of an EEZ generated by Okinotori out in the Pacific, and continued recognition of the 1998 Kim Daejung-Obuchi fisheries agreement.
12:32 am on April 3rd, 2010 9
Kushibo's Japan Times article says that "The islets were placed under Korean sovereignty in 1900. Shimane incorporated the islands into the prefecture in 1905, after Japan seized them during the Russo-Japanese war."
12:37 am on April 3rd, 2010 10
Here is more news article I found. Old maps point to Dokdo and the East Sea
4:17 pm on April 3rd, 2010 11
This is not helping Japan's effort to improve its relationship with Korea.
With one hand they offer peace and with the other confrontation.
6:24 pm on April 3rd, 2010 12
"Korea can demonstrate claim on the islands prior to that."
Great. Accept Japan's proposal to take the dispute to the international courts – it should be an open and shut case for Korea. Problem solved.
7:09 am on April 4th, 2010 13
Here we go again.
Tell me something James, is Japan really serious about the ICJ?
If so, why they don’t give the example to Korea and submit their dispute over the Diaoyu island with China to ICJ first? Yeah … show the example … show how a mature and serious country solves sovereignty problem in a rational and civilized manner.
As you may be aware of Japan is in identical situation to Korea over the disputed island with China, because they have the possession of the island and China is claiming sovereignty too.
It is obvious that by refusing to solve their problem before the international court with China, Japan is wasting a wonderful opportunity to slam the face of Korea over the Dokdo dispute … than why not???? What they are afraid of???? Please go ahead with the Diaoyu island dispute with ICJ.
Oh, of course ….. why should Japan risk to loose the island gambling it before the court if they already have the possession? Good point. You are right … stay away from ICJ ….