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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Senkaku Islands clearly Japanese territory |
| 2004-03-24 |
| Seven Chinese activists unlawfully landed on the disputed Senkaku Islands in the waters off Okinawa Prefecture on Wednesday. Their action was apparently aimed at reinforcing China’s territorial claim on the unihabited islands, which the country calls Daioyu. However, they had no reason to claim Chinese sovereignty over the islands. The eight Senkaku Islands inherently belong to Japan. This is obvious from a historical point of view and an examination of international law. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has expressed strong displeasure over the incident, saying, "They (the islands) are part of Japanese territory, and so I want China to take appropriate actions." On Wednesday, Administrative Vice Foreign Minister Yukio Takeuchi summoned Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Dawei to the Foreign Ministry. During a meeting with the envoy, Takeuchi strongly protested the Chinese group’s action, saying, "The Japanese government will sternly deal with the incident under the relevant laws." Wu responded that, "China has its own stance on Daioyu. I’ll promptly report (the incident) to my government." Japan has every reason to arrest the Chinese activists and send them back to their own country. The government should strongly demand China take measures to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents in the future. In October 2002, the government registered its right of lease on Uotsurijima and two other islets in the Senkaku group of islands. This was intended to demonstrate that the Senkaku Islands belong to Japan. The government should reiterate its position on the territorial row to the international community. In January 1895, Japan incorporated the Senkaku Islands into Okinawa Prefecture after conducting extended research to determine that the islands did not belong to any other nation. However, China and Taiwan started pushing their territorial claims on the islands during the 1970s, when it was suggested that an abundance of oil and other natural resources lay under the seabed in the region. In 1895, Taiwan and Penghu Liedao, a group of islands in the Taiwan Strait, were ceded to Japan under the Shimonoseki Treaty, an accord signed between Japan and the Qing dynasty after the Sino-Japanese War. However, the ceded territories did not include the Senkaku Islands. The group of islands were was not included in the territory Japan relinquished under the San Francisco Peace Treaty of 1951. The United States had kept the islands under its rule until Okinawa Prefecture reverted to Japanese rule in 1972. China never protested these developments surrounding the islands. Today, Beijing insists the Senkaku Islands were unlawfully kept under U.S. rule. There is no doubt that China’s claim on the islands is groundless. For years, the Senkaku Islands have been the subject of unfounded territorial claims, with activists from Hong Kong and Taiwan illegally landing on the islands in October 1996. In October 2003 and January this year, Chinese ships violated Japanese waters but were turned back by Japan Coast Guard patrol boats that prevented the intruders from approaching the Senkaku Islands. Wednesday’s incident was the first case in which Chinese unlawfully landed on the Senkaku Islands. It is extremely deplorable that the JCG failed to prevent the seven activists from landing on the islands, despite its close watch on an approaching ship carrying the Chinese. Relations between Japan and China have been strained in recent years, largely because the latter country has raised objections to Koizumi’s visits to Yasukuni Shrine, suspending visits by the two countries top leaders. The blame must fall on China if unlawful acts by some activists from that country serve to worsen the bilateral relationship. China claims all the islands off its coast, including the Philippines and Japan. |
| Posted by:Chuck Simmins |
| #5 ...the chicoms, especially where there are proven reserves of nat gas and oil, are moving aggressively. from the spartly's to taiwan. Perhaps, but they, like the Spratlys, are presently more useful as choke-points. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2004-03-24 9:35:43 PM |
| #4 The Japanese Navy won't be involved at all, except perhaps to transport the crack team of elite Japanese Train-Packers down to the islands. Those guys, maybe a dozen taken from various cities around Japan, help ensure Japanese trains run on time. They see that the last passengers are shoved inside, so the doors can close. They will deal with the Chinese "most effectively", as they help the Chinese become 'one with nature' - one with rocks, one with trees, one with other various hard things. Of course, it will be very hard on the Chinese, who are 'soft' - at least, softer than the rocks and trees, the "packers" will shove them into, but that's the way God designed it, didn't He? 8^) |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2004-03-24 6:57:16 PM |
| #3 The JMSDF plans to send its crack Broadway dance team to occupy the islands. |
| Posted by: Mike 2004-03-24 6:02:24 PM |
| #2 a direct effect caused by that pussy Japanese Navy recruitment video: "Seamanship, for love, for peace". Chicoms obviously read RB, lol |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-03-24 3:26:25 PM |
| #1 expect to see more of this. the chicoms, especially where there are proven reserves of nat gas and oil, are moving aggressively. from the spartly's to taiwan. we will need to be vigilant, especially when we go into iran/sryia/lebannon. |
| Posted by: Dan 2004-03-24 3:21:47 PM |