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omonatheydidDisputes brew over Dokdo, textbooks, East Sea name
By Park Si-soo
South Korea’s diplomatic relationship with Japan will likely further deteriorate in the months to come over ongoing history disputes between the two countries. The prediction is based on a string of annual events that are scheduled from later this month to April in what appears to be a revival of Japan’s imperial ambitions. These events are likely to provoke Koreans who are extremely sensitive to any such matters as a result of Japan’s colonization of the peninsula between 1910 and 1945. Some analysts here don’t rule out the possibility that the expected crack in Seoul-Tokyo ties could be wider than previous years, citing widespread nationalism in Japanese politics amid the worsening recession.
The most imminent event of will take place on Feb. 22.
Japan’s Shimane Prefecture will host a rally on the day condemning Korea’s “illegal” occupation of the islets of Dokdo, an allegation which Seoul says is groundless. Hundreds of right-wing Japanese politicians and activists are expected to join the demonstration. Such rallies have always prompted angry reactions in Seoul; angered Koreans have previously set fire to Japan’s national flag in front of the Japanese Embassy and pushed for a boycott of Japanese goods. The Shimane Prefectural Government has been hosting, since early January, an exhibition of historical records, news articles and photos backing Japan’s claim to the island.
Dokdo, which the Japanese call Takeshima, is surrounded by waters and a seabed rich in fish and minerals, respectively. The Seoul government has been pushing forward 28 projects, including construction of residential, military and research facilities there, as a means to bolster its sovereignty. In the latest campaign, a right-wing group in Japan attempted to install a monument promoting Takeshima in front of the Korean Embassy in Tokyo and two consulates in Osaka and Kobe. The plan ended in failure due to the authorities’ refusal to issue permission for the installation in a preemptive move to avoid a diplomatic row. This attempt came weeks after Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba reaffirmed in a public speech that his country will never abandon its territorial claim to Dokdo. Gemba said in late January that he will “tenaciously take measures” and “be firm in telling South Korea what we cannot accept” on the issue of the islets. Seoul’s foreign ministry strongly condemned his remarks, calling for their immediate withdrawal. But Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda defended his Cabinet member, saying Japan “has made clear that we cannot accept the demand for withdrawal.”
Another stumbling block to the bilateral relationship comes on March 30.
The Japanese Textbook Authorization and Research Council will announce a list of textbooks that are confirmed to be suitable for the use in primary and secondary schools. The council’s announcement last year caused a great stir in Korea since some of authorized books described Dokdo as Japan’s territory. Whether or not a third dispute occurs hinges on a decision of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) in late April.
The IHO will have its general meeting in Morocco from April 23 to 27, during which member states will cast ballots to decide what to call the body of water between Korea and Japan in the world’s most-cited guideline for maps. The guideline currently calls it “Sea of Japan” while the Korean government has aggressively run an international campaign in a bid to replace it with “East Sea” or at least dually called “the Sea of Japan or East Sea.” But the situation is not favorable to Seoul. The U.S. State Department has openly expressed its support for using the Sea of Japan.
Those people sure have time on their hands for this kind of bullshit.
What about reconstruction?
SMH
Source: Koreatimes
By Park Si-soo
South Korea’s diplomatic relationship with Japan will likely further deteriorate in the months to come over ongoing history disputes between the two countries. The prediction is based on a string of annual events that are scheduled from later this month to April in what appears to be a revival of Japan’s imperial ambitions. These events are likely to provoke Koreans who are extremely sensitive to any such matters as a result of Japan’s colonization of the peninsula between 1910 and 1945. Some analysts here don’t rule out the possibility that the expected crack in Seoul-Tokyo ties could be wider than previous years, citing widespread nationalism in Japanese politics amid the worsening recession.
The most imminent event of will take place on Feb. 22.
Japan’s Shimane Prefecture will host a rally on the day condemning Korea’s “illegal” occupation of the islets of Dokdo, an allegation which Seoul says is groundless. Hundreds of right-wing Japanese politicians and activists are expected to join the demonstration. Such rallies have always prompted angry reactions in Seoul; angered Koreans have previously set fire to Japan’s national flag in front of the Japanese Embassy and pushed for a boycott of Japanese goods. The Shimane Prefectural Government has been hosting, since early January, an exhibition of historical records, news articles and photos backing Japan’s claim to the island.
Dokdo, which the Japanese call Takeshima, is surrounded by waters and a seabed rich in fish and minerals, respectively. The Seoul government has been pushing forward 28 projects, including construction of residential, military and research facilities there, as a means to bolster its sovereignty. In the latest campaign, a right-wing group in Japan attempted to install a monument promoting Takeshima in front of the Korean Embassy in Tokyo and two consulates in Osaka and Kobe. The plan ended in failure due to the authorities’ refusal to issue permission for the installation in a preemptive move to avoid a diplomatic row. This attempt came weeks after Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba reaffirmed in a public speech that his country will never abandon its territorial claim to Dokdo. Gemba said in late January that he will “tenaciously take measures” and “be firm in telling South Korea what we cannot accept” on the issue of the islets. Seoul’s foreign ministry strongly condemned his remarks, calling for their immediate withdrawal. But Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda defended his Cabinet member, saying Japan “has made clear that we cannot accept the demand for withdrawal.”
Another stumbling block to the bilateral relationship comes on March 30.
The Japanese Textbook Authorization and Research Council will announce a list of textbooks that are confirmed to be suitable for the use in primary and secondary schools. The council’s announcement last year caused a great stir in Korea since some of authorized books described Dokdo as Japan’s territory. Whether or not a third dispute occurs hinges on a decision of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) in late April.
The IHO will have its general meeting in Morocco from April 23 to 27, during which member states will cast ballots to decide what to call the body of water between Korea and Japan in the world’s most-cited guideline for maps. The guideline currently calls it “Sea of Japan” while the Korean government has aggressively run an international campaign in a bid to replace it with “East Sea” or at least dually called “the Sea of Japan or East Sea.” But the situation is not favorable to Seoul. The U.S. State Department has openly expressed its support for using the Sea of Japan.
Those people sure have time on their hands for this kind of bullshit.
What about reconstruction?
SMH
Source: Koreatimes
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no subject
Date: 2012-02-07 02:20 pm (UTC)these grounds belong to anybody but this planet.
and i hate how it's always japanese right-wing activists/politicans who make the whole of japan look bad.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-07 05:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-07 04:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-07 05:03 pm (UTC)As much as I hate imperialism those name were probably not decided by Japan or China but by some random european gov or something...
To change the name won't change the situation.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-07 05:15 pm (UTC)OMG THIS SOO EFFFIN MUCH!!!
no subject
Date: 2012-02-08 02:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-07 05:08 pm (UTC)