There is something about Japan's provocations regarding the possession of the islands of Dokdo that is out of the ordinary. Territory relates to a nation's existence, and so there needs to be a resolute and active response.
The legislature of Japan's Shimane Prefecture is as shameless as can be for drafting an ordinance determining February 22 "Takeshima Day," Takeshima being the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese characters for "Dokdo." It said it was going to go on a campaign to establish control of the islands on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the day Japan unilaterally incorporated Dokdo as part of Shimane, and so it seems they lack the bare minimum of the sound judgment of a democratic society. If the city of Busan or the province of South Gyeongsang Province incorporated Daemado, you wonder if that would make it Korean territory.
The attitude of the Japanese government is even more malicious. The Korean government has asked that Shimane's actions be stopped, but the Japanese government is essentially giving tacit consent. Even worse, Japan's ambassador to Korea, in downtown Seoul, publicly declared that the islands belong to Japan. He may have been answering a question from a foreign reporter, but one can only interpret the statement as an intentional provocation at the Japanese government level. They have essentially invaded our territory; they just haven't done it with gun and sword.
Even without this, Japan's rearming and turn to the political right is reminding Asian nations of its past aggression. Add the Dokdo issue to the situation and the relationship that has been built so carefully as of late could be ruined overnight. Japan on the one hand talks about the "Year of Korean-Japanese Friendship," then openly reveals its territorial ambitions on the other, and no Korean will find it easy to trust.
The Korean government must secure commitments from the Japanese government about getting rid of the ordinance, that it will withdraw its ambassador's comments, apologize for them, and prevent a similar occurrence. It should not stop with issuing a formal statement and calling the head of the Japanese mission to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to hear excuses. Japan's doublefaced, shameless behavior should be tolerated no longer. Japan needs to be clearly warned that depending on the situation, Korean-Japanese relations could need a complete reevaluation.
The Hankyoreh, 25 February 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Japan's Shameless Provocation |
