One of two Japanese Coast Guard survey ships that are supposed to explore waters near Dokdo has left the Japanese port city of Sakai. It appears Japan does not care about our side's concerns and warnings.
The Korean government's view is that Japan came up with these plans as part of an effort to strengthen its assertion that Dokdo is Japanese territory. This latest development is understood to be in the same context as the general rightward turn in Japanese politics since the start of the government of Junichiro Koizumi, during which distortions in history textbooks and visits to Yasukuni Shrine have become far more serious. Japan's motive can be seen in the way they have chosen what they claim to be their exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as the survey area. Dokdo is within that EEZ, and the survey zone begins just north of it. The survey zone also intrudes on our side's EEZ as agreed on by both countries. Its motive is wrong and its method is a provocation.
Japan's chief cabinet secretary Shinzo Abe, who is reportedly directing this operation from the top, says relations between our two countries are good. His attitude is to arrogantly and deceptively distort reality. The issue cannot be solved in such a way. If, as the Japanese government claims, the purpose of the survey is to determine names for areas under the sea, then it should give priority to diplomatic agreement and there should be no reason to go to unreasonable lengths with the current survey. If Japan moves ahead with its survey plans, the only interpretation one is left to make is that it is deliberately trying to increase tensions.
The only way for Japan to keep from making relations even worse and to resolve the issue at hand would be for it to withdraw its plans. Already many Koreans are calling for a fundamental re-examination of the country's relationship with Japan. If there is an encounter at sea, the situation will clearly get out of control. We hope to see the Japanese government make the wiser choice before it's too late.
The Hankyoreh, 20 April 2006.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] Japan Should Withdraw Plans to Survey Near Dokdo |
